第二篇　事奉的根据－祭坛的火

建造神家的事奉

📖 研读 📊 汇集 🇬🇧 English 📋 对照

　　读经：赛六3~9，路十二49~50，林前三12~15，来十二28~29，启一13~14。

　　当以色列人跟着会幕在旷野行走的时候，他们在神面前的事奉，乃是开始于燔祭坛上的火烧起来时。利未记给我们看见，燔祭坛上的火是从神那里降下来的（九24）。当那火还没有降下之时，以色列人还没有开始事奉神，也还不能开始事奉神。他们虽然已经蒙神拯救，出了埃及，过了红海，也在西乃山下竖起帐幕，但是直到那个时候，他们对神还没有事奉，而且也不能事奉；因为他们还没有事奉的根据。他们事奉的根据，乃是燔祭坛和其上的火。光有燔祭坛还不够，必须有火降在燔祭坛上才可以。

　　出埃及记给我们看见，神把以色列人从埃及救出来，乃是要叫以色列人事奉祂（三12，九1）。以后，以色列人蒙了拯救，从埃及出来了，被神摆在－出埃及记一个地位，好像可以事奉神了，但是他们还不能事奉。为什么呢？因为他们还没有祭坛。到了有一天，会幕在他们跟前竖起来，祭坛也摆在会幕前面了，但是他们还不能事奉神，因为火还没有从天上降下来。即使是到了出埃及记末了，甚至到了利未记的起头，以色列人还不能事奉神。这时候神在他们对面，他们也在神跟前，似乎可以事奉了，也实在是应该事奉了，但他们还不能有事奉。为什么缘故呢？乃因为缺少从神那里降下来的火烧在祭坛上；所以，他们的事奉还不能开始。一直到利未记九章，神来带领他们，叫他们作一件应该作的事，使天上的火可以降下。

　　他们作了什么才把天上的火带下来呢？没有别的，他们只作了一件事，就是献上燔祭（22）；因为天上的火只能因着燔祭降下来。光有祭坛不够，还必须在祭坛上摆上燔祭才可以。把燔祭牲杀了，剥了，切了，洗了，然后摆在祭坛上，到了这个时候，天上的火才降下来。从那时起，神要他们借着这个火，到神面前事奉。他们在神面前所有的事奉，都该是这个火烧出来的。他们到神面前烧香，就是他们在神面前的事奉，而他们烧香所用的火乃是取之于祭坛上的火。这就给我们看见，人在神面前所有的事奉，都必须源于燔祭坛上的火，都必须是燔祭坛上的火烧出来的。

　　可惜当时的以色列人不明白这些。虽然有火降下来，烧在祭坛上，但是拿答、亚比户却不靠这祭坛上的火，而用自己的火烧香事奉神（十1）。结果，他们的事奉不蒙神悦纳，他们自己仆倒在神面前，遭遇到死亡的审判（2）。神就是借这件事警告我们，人在神面前的事奉，必须是燔祭坛上的火烧出来的；人不能使用这个火之外的任何热力。所以从利未记之后，以色列人在神面前的事奉，每一步，每一点，都是燔祭坛上的火烧出来的。

　　火在宇宙中乃是一个巨大的推动能力；直到今天，物质界的各种动力，原则上都是来自于焚烧所产生的热力。同样的，一个人在神面前的事奉，要有一股的热力，也是要经过烧的，也是要有火的。然而这火不是凡火，不是出乎人的，不是出乎地的；这火乃是圣火，是出乎神、出乎天的。人在神面前所有的事奉，都应该是神的火烧出来的。神的火就是我们里面的热力，我们里面的推动力。这绝对不是我们自己有的，乃是从神来的。

　　以色列人自从有了帐幕之后，他们在神面前所烧的香，所有的事奉，能够蒙神悦纳，都是根据于燔祭坛上的火。以后他们进入迦南地，不久就失败、荒凉了；结果会幕出事，甚至约柜也被掳了，他们就不能好好事奉神。经过一段荒凉的时期后，大卫被神兴起，要事奉神，为神造一个圣殿。他的这个心愿，以后在他儿子所罗门身上得了成全。当所罗门把圣殿造好之后，他把铜祭坛，就是燔祭坛再搬来，摆在圣殿中耶和华神面前，把燔祭牲献在上面。那一次所罗门献了祭，祷告完了，天上的火又降下来，烧在那个燔祭坛上（代下七1）。从那时候起，圣殿里的事奉就又开始了。

　　所以我们看见，以色列人在迦南地，在圣殿里一切的事奉，都是根据于燔祭坛上的火。他们每一次到神面前烧香事奉，都要经过燔祭坛，用其上的火烧香。这火多年、长久的燃烧，直烧到圣殿被毁坏为止。

　　等到新约时期，主耶稣来到地上，祂就是神的会幕，祂就是神的圣殿（约一14，二21）。人要事奉神，非经过祂不可，非到祂这里不可。在神面前，祂也设立了祭坛，这个祭坛就是各各他的十字架。祂把这个祭坛设立起来之后，就把自己献上为燔祭。等祂把这个燔祭献到神面前，到了有一天，也有火降下来。这火是什么呢？就是五旬节的圣灵（徒二1~4）。因着主耶稣肯到十字架上，把自己献给神，并且带了彼得、约翰、雅各，以及另外一百多位爱祂、跟随祂的人，和祂一样把自己献给神，神就悦纳了他们，当作馨香的燔祭。在五旬节之前，他们一百二十人在耶路撒冷的一间楼房上（一13~15）。他们真像祭物一样，把自己的一切都摆在神面前。所以五旬节那天，圣灵就像火焰一样烧在他们身上。请记得，新约的事奉就是从那时候开始的。为什么从五旬节那一天开始？因为天上的火从那一天降下，开始焚烧起来。

　　所以，新约事奉的热力和动力不是出自人，不是出自那些加利利的渔夫，而是出自天上的火。乃是天上的火降下来烧在人身上，烧在那些加利利渔夫身上，作了他们里面的热力，作了他们的动力；因此从五旬节那天起，他们就能站起来，替神说话，传扬福音，拯救罪人，设立召会。这些工作的能力，一点都不是出于他们自己，那个能力的源头是出于天，出于从天上降下来的火。

　　那个火为什么只烧他们，不烧别人呢？在那个时候，在耶路撒冷众多的人口中，为什么天上的火只烧他们这一百二十人，而不烧别人？乃因为只有他们是在燔祭坛上；圣灵的火只降在燔祭坛上。那个火不是审判的火，审判的火是在将来；那个火乃是悦纳的火，是拯救的火。正如圣经所说，现在正是最可蒙悦纳的时候，现在正是拯救的日子（林后六2）。这个火是烧在什么人身上？乃是烧在那些爱神、把自己献给神，肯舍弃一切的人身上。是烧在那些甘愿自己被杀、被破碎，肯把自己摆在神手里的人身上。神的火烧在这样的人身上，他们从这个烧里，就生出一个事奉。所以，人在神面前的事奉，不论在旧约的预表，或是在新约的事实里，都是出自于祭坛的火。

祭坛的火乃是真实事奉的动力

　　使徒保罗在罗马十二章，劝我们把身体献上，当作活祭（1）。这就是要我们自愿对付自己，为着神肯出代价，舍弃一切。你若肯这样把自己摆在祭坛上，神的火就必降下，烧在你身上。神的火因着经过你这个人，借着你这个人，就烧出一个事奉。这样的工作，说是你作的也可以，因为的确有你一分；说不是你作的也可以，因为的确不是出乎你，乃是神作的，是神经过你、联着你作的。

　　－罗马五旬节那天，彼得站起来传福音的光景（徒二14~41），说是彼得传讲的自然可以，说是神在那里传讲的也可以；因为是神的火烧在彼得身上，是神经过彼得讲了那些话。在彼得身上，人被神得着，神也被人得着；神与人，人与神二者联合，调在一起了。

　　这就是神所要的事奉。试想一块铁摆在火里烧的光景，这块铁好像是被火吞吃了，但同时火也烧到铁里面了。这时候，你把铁从火里拿出来，这块铁就不再是青的，乃是红的，是和火同样的红。为什么呢？可以说，是因为火烧到铁里面去了。这时，你把这块铁摆在那里，那里就烧起来；你把这块铁摆在谁身上，谁就受不了。你说这是一块铁也可以，你说这是一团火也可以。火和铁，铁与火，二者成为一个了。这就是基督徒的事奉，这就是基督徒的工作。

　　真正基督徒的事奉，都不是出于人的，乃是出于神而经过人的。神的原则不是勉强人让祂经过，神不作拉夫的工作。神是把一个祭坛摆在这里，凡愿意的人，凡爱祂的人，都可以甘心前来，对付自己，破碎自己，把自己没有条件的摆在这个祭坛上，对神说，“神啊，我在这里，我只求能满足你的需要。”你若是这样诚心的献上自己，天上的火就会烧到你身上。这一个烧就变作你里面的热力，变作你里面的动力。这样的烧，就从你里头烧出一个事奉。今天在这个宇宙中，神所要作的事，就是把祂的火，这样的烧到人身上。

主来是要把火丢在地上

　　把火丢在地上是为着什么呢？就是要它烧起来。所以主接着说，“若是已经着起来，那是我所愿意的。”（49下）主是盼望这个火能在人身上着起来。这是什么意思呢？祂接着说，“我有当受的浸。”（50）主当受的浸，就是到十字架去受死。主若是不死，这个火就丢不下来。为此主必须死，必须接受十字架，必须上祭坛，必须摆上自己当作燔祭。

　　主若不把自己的一切都摆在神手里，这个火是下不来的。这个火就是神的能力，就是神的灵，也就是神的自己。所以当主耶稣上了十字架的祭坛，因着受死而被神得着以后，神就从天上把圣灵像火一样倒下来。这火降在那一百二十人身上，就把他们烧起来了。今天整个新约时代，所有的事奉，都是从这里烧起来的。

得着祭坛的火就烧出有力地事奉

　　我们接着来看，这件事怎么应用到我们身上。首先，我们要清楚认识什么叫基督徒的事奉，什么叫召会的工作。请记得，这些都不是因为人高兴，发热心了，就推动什么事奉，发展什么工作。如果这样，就是用凡火事奉神，因为是出乎人的，不是出乎神的。凡火永远不能蒙神悦纳，乃是神所不要的。

　　那么，怎样的事奉才是神所要的呢？乃是借着燔祭坛上的火，而有的事奉，才是神所要的。今天在宇宙中，有一个燔祭坛已经成功，火也已经降下。这个燔祭坛就是主耶稣的十字架，而这火就是圣灵，就是神的生命，就是神的能力，也就是神的自己。这位满有神生命、能力的圣灵，已经降下；祂借着十字架这燔祭坛，一直在那里烧。直到今天，无论什么人，只要肯到十字架跟前，接触十字架，接受十字架，把十字架的死接受到他身上，肯站在死地，把自己完全给神，让神得着，燔祭坛上的火，就是圣灵，立刻要在这个人身上烧起来，烧出一个事奉。基督徒里面所有真实地事奉，都是从这里烧出来的。

　　有一位少年弟兄，生长在一个很好的家庭，父母都很爱他。有一天，他听见十字架的救恩，就接受了。这一接受，有一件事莫名其妙的发生在他里面，就是圣灵的火烧到他里头了。他一祷告，亲近主，里头的火越发烧着他。他就对主说，“主啊，我甘心乐意把自己献给你，不顾我的前途，不顾我的一生，不顾我的一切。主，我虽然是一个少年人，好像有我的前途，有我所愿意的作为，但是我肯毁坏自己，杀死自己，破碎自己。我肯在这里答应你的要求，在十字架上了此一生。”

　　当他在那里这样祷告时，越祷告，他里头的火越发烧得厉害。烧到有一天，这个少年人所在的地方，只要有一个罪人没有得救，他就不停的为他们落泪。他里头有一个热力推动他，叫他非把福音遍传出去不可。烧到一个地步，这个少年人好像要发疯了。这是什么？这就是经历燔祭坛上的火。

　　在我二十岁正是埋头读书，立志开创前途的时候，有一天听说，某处礼拜堂有位青年女子讲道。当时我觉得很好奇。三十年前，在中国北方，有一位青年女子在那里讲道，实在是前所未闻的事。所以，百忙之中，我抱着好奇的心，想看个光景，就去听了。

　　奇妙的很，我一走进聚会的地方，便觉得那个光景有点特别。诗歌一唱，更是有一种特别的情形。等到那位青年女子开始讲道，她讲神需要人，神要得着人，但是撒但却来霸占人，不让神得着。那一天，她讲的是出埃及记。那个道一直落在我里头，句句抓住我，并且在我里头焚烧。

　　当下我根本把看光景的事忘了，我里头完全被她的话征服。她每讲一句，我就低头在里面响应说，“对”。我对自己说，我要作个被神得着的人。我就是听了她那一篇道，就相信、得救了。当我从礼拜堂出来时，我的人生完全转换了。我说，“即使撒但把整个世界给我，我也不要，我全数不要了。我要丢弃这个世界，离开法老所霸占的埃及。撒但霸占了我，撒但就是这个世界的法老，我要出去。”那一天，我就这样得救了。

　　实在是主的恩待，多年之后，我能与那位传福音给我的姊妹一起事奉神。我才知道她是在基督教学校读书时信主，后来听到另外一位女子讲道而得复兴，献身事奉主。熟悉中国基督教历史的人都知道，约在二十世纪初，在中国人中，有一位主所大用的女子，名字叫作余慈度，是浙江人。

　　余姊妹是怎样成为一个传道人呢？这是我当时听到最叫我受感动的故事。这位余姊妹生长在一个很富有的家庭，年轻时受到很好的教育，读的是医科。毕业后，家人又送她到英国深造。她原是一个蒙恩得救的基督徒，乘坐在航行外洋的船上，当然亲近主，祷告主。然而，正当她这样亲近主的时候，就被主带到祭坛上去了。她一上了祭坛，圣灵的火就烧起来。那时，船已经到了地中海，可是这个火烧得太厉害，烧到一个地步，叫她觉得不能到英国去读书了。

　　圣灵的火一直在里头烧她。她自己本来也莫名其妙。家人花了多少路费、学费，把她送到船上，叫她到英国读医科，怎么可以半途折回呢？在那个时候，要栽培出这样一个人才，是非常难得的。然而那个火却在她里头一直烧，一直烧，要她下船，要她上岸，不要再往前去，要她回中国传福音。

　　这时船行在半途，并且在大海中，这怎么可能呢？好不容易到了法国的马赛，这个青年女子竟然像发疯似的告诉船长，她要回中国。全船的人都认为她疯了，谁也不知道她里头火烧的故事。她就这样留在马赛，让船开走，然后自己另行搭船，回到中国。

　　等她回到家里，全家人都万分失望，极为懊丧，说，这个孩子得了精神病。他们问她为什么回来？她说，“我回来是要传扬主耶稣，我要把福音传给中国人。”她越解释，家里的人越认为她是疯了，这个人信耶稣信疯了，信迷了。

　　当时，亲友无论怎样劝她，拦阻她，都不能改变她。她越祷告，里头越烧得厉害。家里的人用尽办法都无法改变她，就让她去了。她便从家里出来。于是，这个青年女子就这样被火燃烧着到了上海。她站在上海的马路上，举目无亲，也没有安身之处。她一面流泪，一面赞美。她要传耶稣，要人悔改，要人得救。

　　就在这时候，她碰到一个爱主的人，领会她的心情，就为她租了一个房子，让她住进去，她就开始为主传福音。圣灵的火在她里面烧，她传福音实在有能力。有一天，她到福州传福音，我们所认识的倪柝声弟兄，就是听她传福音得救的。有人见证说，当她传福音时，她在台上讲，台下的人都在哭。哭到一个地步，每排坐椅前头都是一行泪水。当人走出去的时候，两旁通路上也都是泪水。她是被圣灵的火烧得炽热的人，所以她传福音能叫许多人悔改，叫许多人得救。以后有一次，她在杭州带领奋兴会，那位传福音使我得救的青年姊妹，就是在那里因她的传讲而得复兴。

　　今天我们能有这个聚会，有这个事奉，有这个工作，和这位姊妹里面圣灵的火烧是很有关系的。可以说，这个工作是从那一次的烧出来的。请记得，对神真实事奉的根据，不是人的发动，不是人的提倡，不是人的会议，不是人的推动，乃是有一个人认识了十字架，把自己摆在十字架上，让神得着，让神的火烧在他身上，从这里才烧出一个事奉。

　　这样的事奉才是圣所里的香烧在神面前，能蒙神悦纳，把人带到神面前，也把神带到人里头，叫神人相通，叫天地联结。这一个工作是出于神，经过神，能回头到神那里的。这个工作是从神那里来到人这里，再把人带到神那里，摸着神，因此再把神带下来，再经过人，从人回到神那里。这样一直从神到人，从人到神的循环，就是这个火烧的故事。这个火烧只根据一个根基，就是有人把自己摆在祭坛上。

　　若是在这里有一班弟兄姊妹，肯在祷告中，在心愿里，把自己交在十字架上，接受十字架的死到自己身上，不顾念自己，不爱惜自己，不体贴自己，只愿满足神的心意，这班人就能蒙到莫大的恩典，就有神的圣火烧在他们身上。到这个时候，他们所作的工，就是神的火烧出来的，也是神从他们身上经过的。他们的工作在神面前，就是馨香的气味。

经过火烧而有的工作，就是金、银、宝石

　　这时，他们所建造的工程就是金、银、宝石。这些金、银、宝石的工程，都是出于神的。金是神的生命和神的性情；银是主的救赎，是十字架的原则；宝石是神的形像，属天的光景。所以到这时候，他们的工作就都满了神的成分，满了十字架的能力，也满了神的形状，满了属天的光景。

　　若不是这样，人凭着自己作工，这出于人的工程就是木、草、禾秸。木是指人天然的性情；草是指肉体、血气，因为圣经说，“凡属肉体的人尽都如草；”（彼前一24）禾秸是从地里长出来的东西，是属地的。人的办法，社会一般的作法，都是出于地的，不是出于天的。在圣经里，所有的宝石都是指属天的光景，所有的禾秸都是指属地的光景。因此只有烧出来的工作，才是金、银、宝石的；不是烧出来的工作，就是木、草、禾秸的。

　　有一天，这个火还要出来，试验我们（林前三13）。如果原初我们的工作，是这个火烧出来的，那一天这个火来试验时，这个工作当然经得起火烧。金、银、宝石都是出于神，被神烧出来的；当神的火再来试验的时候，必然经受得起，作这工作的人就要得赏赐（14）。若是这人一切的工作都凭自己，靠自己，出于自己，并且是照着世界，那个工作就是木、草、禾秸。有一天，当那个火出来试验的时候，他的工作就经不起，必定被烧掉，而他这个人就要受亏损（15）。

三种的焚烧

　　神是在两个地方烧。一个地方是在祭坛上，那里是悦纳的烧，是拯救的烧。你如果肯到祭坛这里，让祂来烧，你就蒙拯救，蒙悦纳。然而，你若不到祭坛这里被焚烧，而凭着你的原样和天然到神面前，结果也要被烧，就像拿答、亚比户被火焚烧一样。请记得，拿答、亚比户没有在燔祭坛这里碰到火，结果却在香坛那里碰到神的火，死在神面前。所以，我们若不在祭坛这里被烧，也得到香坛那里被烧。今天你若不让十字架的火烧你，有一天眼睛如烈焰的那个火，也要烧你。神是烈火，祂总归要烧。

　　或者你不服气，说，我不作基督徒岂不是不必烧了么？请记得，你作基督徒是一定要烧，今天不烧，明天还要烧；今世不烧，来世还得烧，总归要烧。但你若不作基督徒，最后的结局更是被烧，连魔鬼的结局都是被焚烧（二十10）。未得救的人都要到火湖里去烧（15），没有一个人是可以不经过火烧的。你如果认识圣经，就知道一切旧造的结局和归宿，就是被火焚烧。

　　人若看见这个，今天肯在十字架的祭坛上让火焚烧，结局就是蒙神悦纳，蒙神拯救。但是人如果不肯在这里被烧，有一天就要和拿答、亚比户一样，碰着烈焰，倒毙在神跟前。另一面，人如果拒绝救恩，不接受救恩，不接受救主，结局更要落到火湖里。没有一个人是不被烧的。

　　我在这里并不是讲威吓人的话。愿主怜悯我们，开我们的眼睛，给我们看见，所有败坏的人类，天然的人，都得经过火烧。不过，这个焚烧分作三种。第一种是在祭坛这里，这是拯救的火，悦纳的火。你若甘心接受这里的烧，那是何等宝贵，何等荣耀！这个烧的结果，是在神面前发出馨香之气，叫我们显出宝石的光景。第二种烧是为着那些得救了，却不肯对付自己、破碎自己的人，有一天火也要出来，烧他们的工作，烧他们这个人。他们自己虽然可以得救，却要受亏损，好像从火里经过一样。以上两种烧，都是为着已经得救的人。第三种的烧是为着那些不要主、拒绝救恩的人，那就是摆到火湖里烧。每一个人都要被烧，没有一个人能逃避这个烧。

　　最上等的烧，就是燔祭坛上的烧，这是甘美的，也是荣耀的。愿主怜悯我们，叫我们看见，我们是蒙恩的人，应该站在那里，应该作什么。求主给我们看见，新约的事奉不是出于我们，乃是出于祂而经过我们。我们把自己摆在十字架的祭坛上，不可怜自己，不宝爱自己，倒恨恶自己，对付自己，把一切都摆在祭坛上，给祂得着；这样，祂的火就要降在祭坛上，焚烧我们。从这里就要烧出一个事奉。这是上好的路，愿主恩待我们。

　　一九五四年一月讲于马尼拉

　　原刊于一九六三年十一月“话语职事”第一百四十九期

　　读经：以赛亚书六章三至九节，路加福音十二章四十九至五十节，哥林多前书三章十二至十五节，希伯来书十二章二十八至二十九节，启示录一章十三至十四节。
--------本段经节汇集--------

赛6:3

彼此呼喊说，圣哉，圣哉，圣哉，万军之耶和华；祂的荣光充满全地。

赛6:4

因呼喊者的声音，门槛的根基震动，殿充满了烟云。

赛6:5

那时我说，祸哉，我灭亡了！因为我是嘴唇不洁的人，又住在嘴唇不洁的民中；又因我眼见大君王万军之耶和华。

赛6:6

撒拉弗中有一位飞到我跟前，手里拿着红炭，是用火剪从坛上取下来的。

赛6:7

他用炭沾我的口，说，看哪，这炭沾了你的嘴唇，你的罪孽便除掉，你的罪就遮盖了。

赛6:8

我又听见主的声音，说，我可以差遣谁呢？谁肯为我们去呢？我说，我在这里，请差遣我。

赛6:9

祂说，你去对这百姓说，你们听是要听见，却绝不领悟；看是要看见，却绝不晓得。

路12:49

我来要把火丢在地上，若是已经着起来，那是我所愿意的。

路12:50

我有当受的浸，还没有成就，我是何等的困迫！

林前3:12

然而，若有人用金、银、宝石，木、草、禾秸，在这根基上建造，

林前3:13

各人的工程必然显露，因为那日子要将它指明出来；它要在火中被揭露，这火要试验各人的工程是哪一种的。

林前3:14

人在那根基上所建造的工程若存得住，他就要得赏赐。

林前3:15

人的工程若被烧毁，他就要受亏损，自己却要得救；只是这样得救，要像从火里经过的一样。

来12:28

所以我们既领受了不能震动的国，就当接受恩典，借此得以照神所喜悦的，以虔诚和畏惧事奉神；

来12:29

因为我们的神乃是烈火。

启1:13

灯台中间，有一位好像人子，身穿长袍，直垂到脚，胸间束着金带。

启1:14

祂的头与发皆白，如白羊毛、如雪，眼目如同火焰，

------------------------

人对神一切的事奉，都必须根据于祭坛的火

利16:12

他要拿一个香炉，从耶和华面前的坛上盛满火炭，又拿一满捧捣细的馨香之香，都带入幔内，

利16:13

在耶和华面前，把香放在火上，使香的烟云遮掩见证柜上的遮罪盖，免得他死亡；

利10:1

亚伦的儿子拿答、亚比户各拿自己的香炉，盛上火，加上香，在耶和华面前献上凡火，是耶和华没有吩咐他们的。

利10:2

就有火从耶和华面前出来，把他们烧灭，他们就死在耶和华面前。

------------------------
　　当以色列人跟着会幕在旷野行走的时候，他们在神面前的事奉，乃是开始于燔祭坛上的火烧起来时。利未记给我们看见，燔祭坛上的火是从神那里降下来的（九24）。当那火还没有降下之时，以色列人还没有开始事奉神，也还不能开始事奉神。他们虽然已经蒙神拯救，出了埃及，过了红海，也在西乃山下竖起帐幕，但是直到那个时候，他们对神还没有事奉，而且也不能事奉；因为他们还没有事奉的根据。他们事奉的根据，乃是燔祭坛和其上的火。光有燔祭坛还不够，必须有火降在燔祭坛上才可以。
--------本段经节汇集--------

利9:24

有火从耶和华面前出来，烧尽了坛上的燔祭和脂油；众民一见，就都欢呼，面伏于地。

------------------------
　　出埃及记给我们看见，神把以色列人从埃及救出来，乃是要叫以色列人事奉祂（三12，九1）。以后，以色列人蒙了拯救，从埃及出来了，被神摆在一个地位，好像可以事奉神了，但是他们还不能事奉。为什么呢？因为他们还没有祭坛。到了有一天，会幕在他们跟前竖起来，祭坛也摆在会幕前面了，但是他们还不能事奉神，因为火还没有从天上降下来。即使是到了出埃及记末了，甚至到了利未记的起头，以色列人还不能事奉神。这时候神在他们对面，他们也在神跟前，似乎可以事奉了，也实在是应该事奉了，但他们还不能有事奉。为什么缘故呢？乃因为缺少从神那里降下来的火烧在祭坛上；所以，他们的事奉还不能开始。一直到利未记九章，神来带领他们，叫他们作一件应该作的事，使天上的火可以降下。
--------本段经节汇集--------

出3:12

神说，我必与你同在；你将百姓从埃及领出来之后，你们必在这山上事奉神；这就是我差遣你的证据。

出9:1

耶和华对摩西说，你去见法老，对他说，耶和华希伯来人的神这样说，让我的百姓去，他们好事奉我。

利未记九章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
------------------------
　　他们作了什么才把天上的火带下来呢？没有别的，他们只作了一件事，就是献上燔祭（22）；因为天上的火只能因着燔祭降下来。光有祭坛不够，还必须在祭坛上摆上燔祭才可以。把燔祭牲杀了，剥了，切了，洗了，然后摆在祭坛上，到了这个时候，天上的火才降下来。从那时起，神要他们借着这个火，到神面前事奉。他们在神面前所有的事奉，都该是这个火烧出来的。他们到神面前烧香，就是他们在神面前的事奉，而他们烧香所用的火乃是取之于祭坛上的火。这就给我们看见，人在神面前所有的事奉，都必须源于燔祭坛上的火，都必须是燔祭坛上的火烧出来的。　　可惜当时的以色列人不明白这些。虽然有火降下来，烧在祭坛上，但是拿答、亚比户却不靠这祭坛上的火，而用自己的火烧香事奉神（十1）。结果，他们的事奉不蒙神悦纳，他们自己仆倒在神面前，遭遇到死亡的审判（2）。神就是借这件事警告我们，人在神面前的事奉，必须是燔祭坛上的火烧出来的；人不能使用这个火之外的任何热力。所以从利未记之后，以色列人在神面前的事奉，每一步，每一点，都是燔祭坛上的火烧出来的。　　火在宇宙中乃是一个巨大的推动能力；直到今天，物质界的各种动力，原则上都是来自于焚烧所产生的热力。同样的，一个人在神面前的事奉，要有一股的热力，也是要经过烧的，也是要有火的。然而这火不是凡火，不是出乎人的，不是出乎地的；这火乃是圣火，是出乎神、出乎天的。人在神面前所有的事奉，都应该是神的火烧出来的。神的火就是我们里面的热力，我们里面的推动力。这绝对不是我们自己有的，乃是从神来的。　　以色列人自从有了帐幕之后，他们在神面前所烧的香，所有的事奉，能够蒙神悦纳，都是根据于燔祭坛上的火。以后他们进入迦南地，不久就失败、荒凉了；结果会幕出事，甚至约柜也被掳了，他们就不能好好事奉神。经过一段荒凉的时期后，大卫被神兴起，要事奉神，为神造一个圣殿。他的这个心愿，以后在他儿子所罗门身上得了成全。当所罗门把圣殿造好之后，他把铜祭坛，就是燔祭坛再搬来，摆在圣殿中耶和华神面前，把燔祭牲献在上面。那一次所罗门献了祭，祷告完了，天上的火又降下来，烧在那个燔祭坛上（代下七1）。从那时候起，圣殿里的事奉就又开始了。
--------本段经节汇集--------

代下7:1

所罗门祷告已毕，就有火从天上降下来，烧尽燔祭和别的祭。耶和华的荣光充满了殿；

------------------------
　　所以我们看见，以色列人在迦南地，在圣殿里一切的事奉，都是根据于燔祭坛上的火。他们每一次到神面前烧香事奉，都要经过燔祭坛，用其上的火烧香。这火多年、长久的燃烧，直烧到圣殿被毁坏为止。　　等到新约时期，主耶稣来到地上，祂就是神的会幕，祂就是神的圣殿（约一14，二21）。人要事奉神，非经过祂不可，非到祂这里不可。在神面前，祂也设立了祭坛，这个祭坛就是各各他的十字架。祂把这个祭坛设立起来之后，就把自己献上为燔祭。等祂把这个燔祭献到神面前，到了有一天，也有火降下来。这火是什么呢？就是五旬节的圣灵（徒二1~4）。因着主耶稣肯到十字架上，把自己献给神，并且带了彼得、约翰、雅各，以及另外一百多位爱祂、跟随祂的人，和祂一样把自己献给神，神就悦纳了他们，当作馨香的燔祭。在五旬节之前，他们一百二十人在耶路撒冷的一间楼房上（一13~15）。他们真像祭物一样，把自己的一切都摆在神面前。所以五旬节那天，圣灵就像火焰一样烧在他们身上。请记得，新约的事奉就是从那时候开始的。为什么从五旬节那一天开始？因为天上的火从那一天降下，开始焚烧起来。
--------本段经节汇集--------

约1:14

话成了肉体，支搭帐幕在我们中间，丰丰满满地有恩典，有实际。我们也见过祂的荣耀，正是从父而来独生子的荣耀。

约2:21

但耶稣是以祂的身体为殿说的。

约翰福音五章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）

徒2:1

五旬节那天到了，门徒都聚集在一处。

徒2:2

忽然从天上有响声下来，好像一阵暴风刮过，充满了他们所坐的整个屋子。

徒2:3

又有舌头如火焰向他们显现出来，分开落在他们各人身上，

徒2:4

他们就都被圣灵充溢，并且按着那灵所赐的发表，用别种不同的语言说起话来。

使徒行传五章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）

徒1:13

他们进了城，就上了所住的一间楼房，在那里有彼得、约翰、雅各、安得烈、腓力、多马、巴多罗买、马太、亚勒腓的儿子雅各、热烈派的西门和雅各的兄弟犹大。

徒1:14

这些人同着几个妇人，和耶稣的母亲马利亚，并耶稣的兄弟，都同心合意，坚定持续地祷告。

徒1:15

在那些日子，有许多人聚集，约一百二十名，彼得在弟兄中间站起来，说，

使徒行传五章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
------------------------
　　所以，新约事奉的热力和动力不是出自人，不是出自那些加利利的渔夫，而是出自天上的火。乃是天上的火降下来烧在人身上，烧在那些加利利渔夫身上，作了他们里面的热力，作了他们的动力；因此从五旬节那天起，他们就能站起来，替神说话，传扬福音，拯救罪人，设立召会。这些工作的能力，一点都不是出于他们自己，那个能力的源头是出于天，出于从天上降下来的火。　　那个火为什么只烧他们，不烧别人呢？在那个时候，在耶路撒冷众多的人口中，为什么天上的火只烧他们这一百二十人，而不烧别人？乃因为只有他们是在燔祭坛上；圣灵的火只降在燔祭坛上。那个火不是审判的火，审判的火是在将来；那个火乃是悦纳的火，是拯救的火。正如圣经所说，现在正是最可蒙悦纳的时候，现在正是拯救的日子（林后六2）。这个火是烧在什么人身上？乃是烧在那些爱神、把自己献给神，肯舍弃一切的人身上。是烧在那些甘愿自己被杀、被破碎，肯把自己摆在神手里的人身上。神的火烧在这样的人身上，他们从这个烧里，就生出一个事奉。所以，人在神面前的事奉，不论在旧约的预表，或是在新约的事实里，都是出自于祭坛的火。
--------本段经节汇集--------

林后6:2

因为祂说，“在悦纳的时候，我应允了你；在拯救的日子，我济助了你。”看哪，现在正是最可蒙悦纳的时候；看哪，现在正是拯救的日子。

------------------------

祭坛的火乃是真实事奉的动力

罗12:1

所以弟兄们，我借着神的怜恤劝你们，将身体献上，当作圣别并讨神喜悦的活祭，这是你们合理的事奉。

------------------------
　　五旬节那天，彼得站起来传福音的光景（徒二14~41），说是彼得传讲的自然可以，说是神在那里传讲的也可以；因为是神的火烧在彼得身上，是神经过彼得讲了那些话。在彼得身上，人被神得着，神也被人得着；神与人，人与神二者联合，调在一起了。
--------本段经节汇集--------

徒2:14

彼得同十一位使徒站起来，高声对众人说，诸位，犹太人和一切住在耶路撒冷的人哪，这件事你们当知道，也当侧耳听我的话。

徒2:15

这些人并不是像你们所想的喝醉了，因为时候不过是上午九时；

徒2:16

这正是借着申言者约珥所说的，

徒2:17

“神说，在末后的日子，我要将我的灵浇灌在一切属肉体的人身上；你们的儿女要说预言，你们的青年人要见异象，你们的老年人要作异梦。

徒2:18

在那些日子，我要将我的灵浇灌在我的奴仆和婢女身上，他们就要说预言。

徒2:19

我要在天上显出奇事，在地上显出神迹，有血、有火、有烟雾。

徒2:20

在主大而显赫的日子来到以前，日头要变为黑暗，月亮要变为血。

徒2:21

那时，凡呼求主名的，就必得救。”

徒2:22

诸位，以色列人哪，你们要听这些话：神借着拿撒勒人耶稣，在你们中间施行异能、奇事、神迹，将祂证明出来，正如你们自己所知道的。

徒2:23

祂既按着神的定议先见被交给人，你们就借着不法之人的手，把祂钉在十字架上杀了。

徒2:24

神却将死的痛苦解除，叫祂复活了，因为祂不能被死拘禁。

徒2:25

大卫指着祂说，“我看见主常在我眼前，因祂在我右边，我便不至摇动。

徒2:26

所以我的心快乐，我的舌欢腾，并且我的肉身要安居在指望中；

徒2:27

因你必不将我的魂撇在阴间，也不叫你的圣者见朽坏。

徒2:28

你已将生命的道路指示我，你必用你的面容使我充满快乐。”

徒2:29

诸位，弟兄们，先祖大卫的事，我可以明明地对你们说，他死了，也葬了，并且他的坟墓直到今日还在我们这里。

徒2:30

大卫既是申言者，又晓得神曾用誓言向他起誓，要从他的后裔中，立一位坐在他的宝座上，

徒2:31

就预先看明这事，讲论基督的复活说，祂不被撇在阴间，祂的肉身也不见朽坏。

徒2:32

这位耶稣，神已经叫祂复活了，我们都是这事的见证人。

徒2:33

祂既被高举在神的右边，又从父领受了所应许的圣灵，就把你们所看见所听见的，浇灌下来。

徒2:34

大卫并没有升到诸天之上，但他自己说，“主对我主说，你坐在我的右边，

徒2:35

等我使你的仇敌作你的脚凳。”

徒2:36

所以，以色列全家当确实地知道，你们钉在十字架上的这位耶稣，神已经立祂为主为基督了。

徒2:37

众人听了，觉得扎心，就对彼得和其余的使徒说，诸位，弟兄们，我们当怎样行？

徒2:38

彼得对他们说，你们要悔改，各人要靠耶稣基督的名受浸，叫你们的罪得赦，就必领受所赐的圣灵。

徒2:39

因为这应许是给你们和你们的儿女，并一切在远方，凡是主我们的神所召来的人。

徒2:40

彼得还用许多别的话郑重地作见证，劝勉他们说，你们要得救，脱离这弯曲的世代。

徒2:41

于是领受他话的人，就受了浸，那一天约添了三千人。

使徒行传一章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）
------------------------
　　这就是神所要的事奉。试想一块铁摆在火里烧的光景，这块铁好像是被火吞吃了，但同时火也烧到铁里面了。这时候，你把铁从火里拿出来，这块铁就不再是青的，乃是红的，是和火同样的红。为什么呢？可以说，是因为火烧到铁里面去了。这时，你把这块铁摆在那里，那里就烧起来；你把这块铁摆在谁身上，谁就受不了。你说这是一块铁也可以，你说这是一团火也可以。火和铁，铁与火，二者成为一个了。这就是基督徒的事奉，这就是基督徒的工作。　　真正基督徒的事奉，都不是出于人的，乃是出于神而经过人的。神的原则不是勉强人让祂经过，神不作拉夫的工作。神是把一个祭坛摆在这里，凡愿意的人，凡爱祂的人，都可以甘心前来，对付自己，破碎自己，把自己没有条件的摆在这个祭坛上，对神说，“神啊，我在这里，我只求能满足你的需要。”你若是这样诚心的献上自己，天上的火就会烧到你身上。这一个烧就变作你里面的热力，变作你里面的动力。这样的烧，就从你里头烧出一个事奉。今天在这个宇宙中，神所要作的事，就是把祂的火，这样的烧到人身上。

主来是要把火丢在地上

路19:10

人子来，是要寻找拯救失丧的人。

提前1:15

基督耶稣降世，为要拯救罪人，这话是可信的，是值得完全接受的；在罪人中我是个罪魁。

约10:10

贼来了，无非是要偷窃、杀害、毁坏；我来了，是要叫羊得生命，并且得的更丰盛。

路加福音十二章（略，若需要被汇集，请勾选“不忽略整章”）

路12:49

我来要把火丢在地上，若是已经着起来，那是我所愿意的。

------------------------
　　把火丢在地上是为着什么呢？就是要它烧起来。所以主接着说，“若是已经着起来，那是我所愿意的。”（49下）主是盼望这个火能在人身上着起来。这是什么意思呢？祂接着说，“我有当受的浸。”（50）主当受的浸，就是到十字架去受死。主若是不死，这个火就丢不下来。为此主必须死，必须接受十字架，必须上祭坛，必须摆上自己当作燔祭。　　主若不把自己的一切都摆在神手里，这个火是下不来的。这个火就是神的能力，就是神的灵，也就是神的自己。所以当主耶稣上了十字架的祭坛，因着受死而被神得着以后，神就从天上把圣灵像火一样倒下来。这火降在那一百二十人身上，就把他们烧起来了。今天整个新约时代，所有的事奉，都是从这里烧起来的。

得着祭坛的火就烧出有力地事奉

　　我们接着来看，这件事怎么应用到我们身上。首先，我们要清楚认识什么叫基督徒的事奉，什么叫召会的工作。请记得，这些都不是因为人高兴，发热心了，就推动什么事奉，发展什么工作。如果这样，就是用凡火事奉神，因为是出乎人的，不是出乎神的。凡火永远不能蒙神悦纳，乃是神所不要的。　　那么，怎样的事奉才是神所要的呢？乃是借着燔祭坛上的火，而有的事奉，才是神所要的。今天在宇宙中，有一个燔祭坛已经成功，火也已经降下。这个燔祭坛就是主耶稣的十字架，而这火就是圣灵，就是神的生命，就是神的能力，也就是神的自己。这位满有神生命、能力的圣灵，已经降下；祂借着十字架这燔祭坛，一直在那里烧。直到今天，无论什么人，只要肯到十字架跟前，接触十字架，接受十字架，把十字架的死接受到他身上，肯站在死地，把自己完全给神，让神得着，燔祭坛上的火，就是圣灵，立刻要在这个人身上烧起来，烧出一个事奉。基督徒里面所有真实地事奉，都是从这里烧出来的。　　有一位少年弟兄，生长在一个很好的家庭，父母都很爱他。有一天，他听见十字架的救恩，就接受了。这一接受，有一件事莫名其妙的发生在他里面，就是圣灵的火烧到他里头了。他一祷告，亲近主，里头的火越发烧着他。他就对主说，“主啊，我甘心乐意把自己献给你，不顾我的前途，不顾我的一生，不顾我的一切。主，我虽然是一个少年人，好像有我的前途，有我所愿意的作为，但是我肯毁坏自己，杀死自己，破碎自己。我肯在这里答应你的要求，在十字架上了此一生。”　　当他在那里这样祷告时，越祷告，他里头的火越发烧得厉害。烧到有一天，这个少年人所在的地方，只要有一个罪人没有得救，他就不停的为他们落泪。他里头有一个热力推动他，叫他非把福音遍传出去不可。烧到一个地步，这个少年人好像要发疯了。这是什么？这就是经历燔祭坛上的火。　　在我二十岁正是埋头读书，立志开创前途的时候，有一天听说，某处礼拜堂有位青年女子讲道。当时我觉得很好奇。三十年前，在中国北方，有一位青年女子在那里讲道，实在是前所未闻的事。所以，百忙之中，我抱着好奇的心，想看个光景，就去听了。　　奇妙的很，我一走进聚会的地方，便觉得那个光景有点特别。诗歌一唱，更是有一种特别的情形。等到那位青年女子开始讲道，她讲神需要人，神要得着人，但是撒但却来霸占人，不让神得着。那一天，她讲的是出埃及记。那个道一直落在我里头，句句抓住我，并且在我里头焚烧。　　当下我根本把看光景的事忘了，我里头完全被她的话征服。她每讲一句，我就低头在里面响应说，“对”。我对自己说，我要作个被神得着的人。我就是听了她那一篇道，就相信、得救了。当我从礼拜堂出来时，我的人生完全转换了。我说，“即使撒但把整个世界给我，我也不要，我全数不要了。我要丢弃这个世界，离开法老所霸占的埃及。撒但霸占了我，撒但就是这个世界的法老，我要出去。”那一天，我就这样得救了。　　实在是主的恩待，多年之后，我能与那位传福音给我的姊妹一起事奉神。我才知道她是在基督教学校读书时信主，后来听到另外一位女子讲道而得复兴，献身事奉主。熟悉中国基督教历史的人都知道，约在二十世纪初，在中国人中，有一位主所大用的女子，名字叫作余慈度，是浙江人。　　余姊妹是怎样成为一个传道人呢？这是我当时听到最叫我受感动的故事。这位余姊妹生长在一个很富有的家庭，年轻时受到很好的教育，读的是医科。毕业后，家人又送她到英国深造。她原是一个蒙恩得救的基督徒，乘坐在航行外洋的船上，当然亲近主，祷告主。然而，正当她这样亲近主的时候，就被主带到祭坛上去了。她一上了祭坛，圣灵的火就烧起来。那时，船已经到了地中海，可是这个火烧得太厉害，烧到一个地步，叫她觉得不能到英国去读书了。　　圣灵的火一直在里头烧她。她自己本来也莫名其妙。家人花了多少路费、学费，把她送到船上，叫她到英国读医科，怎么可以半途折回呢？在那个时候，要栽培出这样一个人才，是非常难得的。然而那个火却在她里头一直烧，一直烧，要她下船，要她上岸，不要再往前去，要她回中国传福音。　　这时船行在半途，并且在大海中，这怎么可能呢？好不容易到了法国的马赛，这个青年女子竟然像发疯似的告诉船长，她要回中国。全船的人都认为她疯了，谁也不知道她里头火烧的故事。她就这样留在马赛，让船开走，然后自己另行搭船，回到中国。　　等她回到家里，全家人都万分失望，极为懊丧，说，这个孩子得了精神病。他们问她为什么回来？她说，“我回来是要传扬主耶稣，我要把福音传给中国人。”她越解释，家里的人越认为她是疯了，这个人信耶稣信疯了，信迷了。　　当时，亲友无论怎样劝她，拦阻她，都不能改变她。她越祷告，里头越烧得厉害。家里的人用尽办法都无法改变她，就让她去了。她便从家里出来。于是，这个青年女子就这样被火燃烧着到了上海。她站在上海的马路上，举目无亲，也没有安身之处。她一面流泪，一面赞美。她要传耶稣，要人悔改，要人得救。　　就在这时候，她碰到一个爱主的人，领会她的心情，就为她租了一个房子，让她住进去，她就开始为主传福音。圣灵的火在她里面烧，她传福音实在有能力。有一天，她到福州传福音，我们所认识的倪柝声弟兄，就是听她传福音得救的。有人见证说，当她传福音时，她在台上讲，台下的人都在哭。哭到一个地步，每排坐椅前头都是一行泪水。当人走出去的时候，两旁通路上也都是泪水。她是被圣灵的火烧得炽热的人，所以她传福音能叫许多人悔改，叫许多人得救。以后有一次，她在杭州带领奋兴会，那位传福音使我得救的青年姊妹，就是在那里因她的传讲而得复兴。　　今天我们能有这个聚会，有这个事奉，有这个工作，和这位姊妹里面圣灵的火烧是很有关系的。可以说，这个工作是从那一次的烧出来的。请记得，对神真实事奉的根据，不是人的发动，不是人的提倡，不是人的会议，不是人的推动，乃是有一个人认识了十字架，把自己摆在十字架上，让神得着，让神的火烧在他身上，从这里才烧出一个事奉。　　这样的事奉才是圣所里的香烧在神面前，能蒙神悦纳，把人带到神面前，也把神带到人里头，叫神人相通，叫天地联结。这一个工作是出于神，经过神，能回头到神那里的。这个工作是从神那里来到人这里，再把人带到神那里，摸着神，因此再把神带下来，再经过人，从人回到神那里。这样一直从神到人，从人到神的循环，就是这个火烧的故事。这个火烧只根据一个根基，就是有人把自己摆在祭坛上。　　若是在这里有一班弟兄姊妹，肯在祷告中，在心愿里，把自己交在十字架上，接受十字架的死到自己身上，不顾念自己，不爱惜自己，不体贴自己，只愿满足神的心意，这班人就能蒙到莫大的恩典，就有神的圣火烧在他们身上。到这个时候，他们所作的工，就是神的火烧出来的，也是神从他们身上经过的。他们的工作在神面前，就是馨香的气味。

经过火烧而有的工作，就是金、银、宝石

彼前1:24

因为“凡属肉体的人尽都如草，他一切的荣美都像草上的花；草必枯干，花必凋谢，

------------------------
　　有一天，这个火还要出来，试验我们（林前三13）。如果原初我们的工作，是这个火烧出来的，那一天这个火来试验时，这个工作当然经得起火烧。金、银、宝石都是出于神，被神烧出来的；当神的火再来试验的时候，必然经受得起，作这工作的人就要得赏赐（14）。若是这人一切的工作都凭自己，靠自己，出于自己，并且是照着世界，那个工作就是木、草、禾秸。有一天，当那个火出来试验的时候，他的工作就经不起，必定被烧掉，而他这个人就要受亏损（15）。
--------本段经节汇集--------

林前3:13

各人的工程必然显露，因为那日子要将它指明出来；它要在火中被揭露，这火要试验各人的工程是哪一种的。

林前3:14

人在那根基上所建造的工程若存得住，他就要得赏赐。

林前3:15

人的工程若被烧毁，他就要受亏损，自己却要得救；只是这样得救，要像从火里经过的一样。

------------------------

三种的焚烧

来12:29

因为我们的神乃是烈火。

启1:14

祂的头与发皆白，如白羊毛、如雪，眼目如同火焰，

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　　神是在两个地方烧。一个地方是在祭坛上，那里是悦纳的烧，是拯救的烧。你如果肯到祭坛这里，让祂来烧，你就蒙拯救，蒙悦纳。然而，你若不到祭坛这里被焚烧，而凭着你的原样和天然到神面前，结果也要被烧，就像拿答、亚比户被火焚烧一样。请记得，拿答、亚比户没有在燔祭坛这里碰到火，结果却在香坛那里碰到神的火，死在神面前。所以，我们若不在祭坛这里被烧，也得到香坛那里被烧。今天你若不让十字架的火烧你，有一天眼睛如烈焰的那个火，也要烧你。神是烈火，祂总归要烧。　　或者你不服气，说，我不作基督徒岂不是不必烧了么？请记得，你作基督徒是一定要烧，今天不烧，明天还要烧；今世不烧，来世还得烧，总归要烧。但你若不作基督徒，最后的结局更是被烧，连魔鬼的结局都是被焚烧（二十10）。未得救的人都要到火湖里去烧（15），没有一个人是可以不经过火烧的。你如果认识圣经，就知道一切旧造的结局和归宿，就是被火焚烧。　　人若看见这个，今天肯在十字架的祭坛上让火焚烧，结局就是蒙神悦纳，蒙神拯救。但是人如果不肯在这里被烧，有一天就要和拿答、亚比户一样，碰着烈焰，倒毙在神跟前。另一面，人如果拒绝救恩，不接受救恩，不接受救主，结局更要落到火湖里。没有一个人是不被烧的。　　我在这里并不是讲威吓人的话。愿主怜悯我们，开我们的眼睛，给我们看见，所有败坏的人类，天然的人，都得经过火烧。不过，这个焚烧分作三种。第一种是在祭坛这里，这是拯救的火，悦纳的火。你若甘心接受这里的烧，那是何等宝贵，何等荣耀！这个烧的结果，是在神面前发出馨香之气，叫我们显出宝石的光景。第二种烧是为着那些得救了，却不肯对付自己、破碎自己的人，有一天火也要出来，烧他们的工作，烧他们这个人。他们自己虽然可以得救，却要受亏损，好像从火里经过一样。以上两种烧，都是为着已经得救的人。第三种的烧是为着那些不要主、拒绝救恩的人，那就是摆到火湖里烧。每一个人都要被烧，没有一个人能逃避这个烧。　　最上等的烧，就是燔祭坛上的烧，这是甘美的，也是荣耀的。愿主怜悯我们，叫我们看见，我们是蒙恩的人，应该站在那里，应该作什么。求主给我们看见，新约的事奉不是出于我们，乃是出于祂而经过我们。我们把自己摆在十字架的祭坛上，不可怜自己，不宝爱自己，倒恨恶自己，对付自己，把一切都摆在祭坛上，给祂得着；这样，祂的火就要降在祭坛上，焚烧我们。从这里就要烧出一个事奉。这是上好的路，愿主恩待我们。　　一九五四年一月讲于马尼拉　　原刊于一九六三年十一月“话语职事”第一百四十九期

　Scripture Reading: Isa. 6:3-9; Luke 12:49-50; 1 Cor. 3:12-15; Heb. 12:28-29; Rev. 1:13-14

THE FIRE FROM THE ALTAR BEING THE BASE OF OUR SERVICE TO GOD

　When the children of Israel followed the tabernacle in their journey through the wilderness, their service before God began with the burning of the fire on the altar of burnt offering. The fire on the altar of burnt offering descended from God (9:24). The children of Israel could not begin their service to God until the fire descended. Although they had been delivered by God out of Egypt, had crossed the Red Sea, and had raised up the tabernacle at the foot of Mount Sinai, they could not serve God, because they did not have a basis for their service. The basis of their service was the altar of burnt offering with fire burning upon it. It was not adequate to have the altar of burnt offering. The altar had to have the fire that descended from God.

　God delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt so that they might serve Him (Exo. 3:12; 9:1). After the Israelites were rescued out of Egypt, they were in a position to serve God. However, they could not serve Him, because they did not have the altar. Even after the tabernacle was raised up and the altar of burnt offering was put before the entrance of the tabernacle, the children of Israel still could not serve God, because fire had not yet descended from heaven. At the beginning of Leviticus God was before the Israelites, yet they still could not serve Him. It was not until chapter 9 that God led them to do what was necessary for fire to come down from heaven.

　The offering of the burnt offering was the prerequisite for fire to descend from heaven. Merely having the altar was not sufficient; the burnt offering had to be placed on the altar. After the sacrifice of the burnt offering was killed, skinned, cut, washed, and placed on the altar, fire could descend from heaven. God wanted the service of the children of Israel to be based on this fire. The burning of incense was their service to God, but the fire used for burning incense had to be taken from the altar. Hence, the service that we render to God must originate from the fire on the altar of burnt offering, and our service must be the issue of the burning of this fire.

　Instead of using the fire from the altar, Nadab and Abihu used their own fire to burn incense in their service to God (10:1). Consequently, their service was not accepted by God, and they suffered the judgment of death (v. 2). This incident is a warning from God that our service must be based on the fire from the altar of burnt offering. We cannot use any energy other than this fire. Every item of the service of the children of Israel before God issued out of the fire burning on the altar of burnt offering.

　Fire is a source of energy. Everything that moves in the physical world uses energy, and energy is produced through burning. In order for our service to be full of energy, our service must pass through the fire on the altar. This is not strange fire, which is of man and of the earth. Rather, this is holy fire. This fire is of God and of heaven. Our service must come out of the burning of God’s fire. This fire should be the energy, the driving force, the impulse within us. Then our service will be out of God, not out of ourselves.

　God accepted the service of the Israelites based on the fire from the altar of burnt offering. Shortly after entering the land of Canaan, the children of Israel failed, became desolate, and the Ark was carried away. As a result, the people could not serve God properly. After a period of desolation, David was raised up by God. David had a desire to serve God and to build a house for God. This desire was fulfilled through his son Solomon. After Solomon finished building the temple, he took the bronze altar, the altar of burnt offering, and put it in the temple. He also offered sacrifices and the burnt offering upon the altar (2 Chron. 7:1). At that time the service to God was resumed.

　Therefore, the service of the children of Israel in the temple was based on the fire from the altar of burnt offering. Every time they burned incense and served before God, they had to pass through the altar of burnt offering. They had to use the fire taken from the altar to burn incense. The fire was kept burning on the altar continually until the destruction of the temple (Lev. 6:13).

　When the Lord Jesus was on the earth, He was the tabernacle of God, the temple of God (John 1:14; 2:21). Anyone who had the desire to serve God had to serve through the Lord Jesus. They had to go to Him. The Lord also set up an altar—the cross on Golgotha—and offered Himself upon it as the burnt offering. Then one day fire came down. This fire was the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). The Lord Jesus Himself was willing to go to the cross and offer Himself to God. He also led Peter, John, James, and the rest of His lovers and followers to offer themselves to God, just as He did. Therefore, God accepted them as a satisfying fragrance of Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 2:15). Before Pentecost a hundred and twenty lovers of Jesus gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem (Acts 1:13-15) and presented themselves to God. As a result, on the day of Pentecost the Spirit descended upon them as tongues of fire. This was the beginning of the New Testament service. The New Testament service began on the day of Pentecost with the fire that came down and began to burn.

　The energy and the motivating power for the New Testament service did not originate in man, that is, in the Galilean fishermen. The energy and the motivating power for the New Testament service began with fire from heaven. The fire that descended upon the Galilean fishermen became the energy and the motivating power within them. After the day of Pentecost they could speak for God, preach the gospel, save sinners, and establish churches. The disciples were not the source of the power for their work. The source of that power was heaven; the power came from the fire that descended from heaven.

　At the time of Pentecost there was a great number of people in Jerusalem. However, the fire descended only on the hundred and twenty because they were on the altar of burnt offering. The fire of the Spirit descends only on the altar of burnt offering. This was not the fire of judgment, which will come in the future. This was the fire of salvation (Luke 12:49). This fire burns on those who love God, who offer themselves to God, who are willing to forsake everything for God, and who are willing to place themselves in His hands in order to be slain and broken. Their service to God is the issue of the burning. Whether in the Old Testament type or in the New Testament reality, man’s service to God always comes out of the fire from the altar.

THE FIRE FROM THE ALTAR BEING THE GENUINE MOTIVATING POWER OF SERVICE

　In Romans 12:1 the apostle Paul exhorts us to present our bodies a living sacrifice. This means that we must pay the price to forsake everything of ourselves. If we are willing to present ourselves on the altar, the divine fire will come down on us and pass through us. The issue of this burning will be our service, our work. On the one hand, such a work may be considered our work because we have a part in it; on the other hand, it is not our work because it is not out of us. This work is God working through us by being joined to us.

　On the one hand, it was Peter who stood up on the day of Pentecost to preach the gospel (Acts 2:14-41); on the other hand, it was God who preached the gospel. It was the fire of God burning in Peter and speaking through Peter. This is an example of man being gained by God and of God being gained by man. God and man were joined and mingled together.

　This is the service that God desires. When iron is being purified in fire, the iron seems to be swallowed up by the fire, but at the same time, the fire seems to burn in the iron. The iron becomes red because fire is burning in the iron. Then the fire burns wherever the iron is placed. We may say that it is a rod of iron, or we may say that it is a ball of fire. The fire and the iron become one. This is an illustration of the Christian service and work.

　Genuine Christian service is not of man. Rather, genuine Christian service is God moving through man. God does not force man to receive Him. God has erected an altar, and those who are willing, those who love Him, may come forward willingly to be dealt with, broken, and placed on the altar. Such a person can say, “Lord, here I am. My only desire is to satisfy Your need.” If we would offer ourselves sincerely in this way, fire will descend from heaven and burn us. This burning will become the energy that moves us. The issue of this burning will be our service. God wants His fire to burn in us.

THE LORD COMING TO CAST FIRE ON THE EARTH

　The Lord cast fire on the earth so that it might be kindled. Therefore, the Lord continued, “How I wish that it were already kindled!” (v. 49). The Lord desired that the fire would be kindled in people. Verse 50 says, “I have a baptism to be baptized with.” The baptism with which the Lord was to be baptized was His death on the cross. If the Lord had not died, the fire would not have been cast down. The Lord had to die. He had to take up the cross, go to the altar, and present Himself as a burnt offering.

　If the Lord had not placed Himself in the Father’s hand, the fire could not have been cast to the earth. This fire is the Spirit. When the Lord Jesus went to the cross and suffered death, He was gained by God, and God poured out the Spirit as fire from heaven. This fire descended on the hundred and twenty disciples and burned in them. All the service in the New Testament age comes out of that burning.

THE FIRE ON THE ALTAR BURNING AND PRODUCING A POWERFUL SERVICE

　The service that God desires is carried out through the fire on the altar of burnt offering. The altar of burnt offering has already been set up, and fire has also descended upon it. The altar of burnt offering is the cross of the Lord Jesus, and the fire is the Spirit. The Spirit has descended and is burning through the cross as the altar of burnt offering. Any person who is willing to touch the cross, that is, to receive the cross by applying the death of Christ, will be gained by God. Then the fire on the altar of burnt offering, that is, the Spirit, will burn in him until it produces a service. All genuine service comes out of such a burning.

　There was a young brother who was born into a good family and was loved by his parents. One day he learned of the salvation of the cross and received it. Then something unexplainable happened in him; the fire of the Spirit burned in him. The more he prayed and the closer he drew to the Lord, the more the fire burned within him. Finally, he said, “Lord, I consecrate myself to You willingly. I do not care about my future, and I do not care about my possessions. I am willing to be wrecked, slain, and broken. I am willing to meet Your need and let my life be terminated on the cross.”

　The more he prayed, the stronger the fire burned within him. The fire became so intense that the young brother would weep for unsaved sinners around him. The zeal burning in him and moving him was so intense that he had to preach the gospel. He was beside himself for the gospel. This was an experience of the fire on the altar of burnt offering.

　When I was twenty years old, I was studying with a determination to accomplish something in the future. One day I heard that a young lady would be preaching in a certain chapel. I was full of curiosity because at that time in northern China it was unheard of for a young lady to preach the gospel in public. Therefore, even though I was very busy, I went to listen to her because I was curious and wanted to see the situation.

　As soon as I walked into the meeting place, I felt the situation was special. It was even more special once the singing began. The young lady spoke concerning how God needs man and wants to gain man and how Satan usurps man in order to prevent God from gaining man. She spoke from the book of Exodus. Her words penetrated me, and every sentence burned in me.

　I forgot that I was there as a spectator. My inner being was altogether subdued by her speaking. Every time she spoke a sentence, I would bow my head and respond inwardly, “Right!” I said to myself that I wanted to be a person gained by God. After listening to her message, I believed in the Lord and was saved. After I walked out of the chapel, my life was changed. I said, “Even if Satan would give me the whole world, I do not want it; I do not want anything. I want to forsake the world; I want to leave Egypt, which is under Pharaoh’s usurpation. Satan, the Pharaoh of this world, has usurped me; I want to go out.”

　Through the Lord’s grace, many years later I served together with this sister who preached the gospel to me, and I learned how she was saved. She believed in the Lord while attending a Christian school. Later, she was revived and consecrated herself to serve the Lord after hearing the gospel from another young woman. Those who are acquainted with the history of Christianity in China know that in the early part of the twentieth century, a woman by the name of Dora Yu was greatly used by the Lord. Dora Yu was a native of Chekiang Province.

　Sister Yu grew up in a wealthy family and received a good education from her youth. After she graduated from medical school, her parents sent her to England to further her studies. While she was on the ship sailing to England, she spent much time with the Lord in prayer and was brought by the Lord to the altar. As soon as she was placed on the altar, the fire of the Spirit began to burn in her. By the time her ship was in the Mediterranean Sea, the fire within her was burning so fiercely that she felt she could not go to England to study.

　Sister Yu wondered how she could turn back, because her parents had already spent a large sum of money to pay for her travel expenses and tuition. In those days it was extremely difficult to be trained as a medical doctor. Nevertheless, the fire kept burning within her, urging her to get off the ship and return to China in order to preach the gospel.

　When the ship arrived at Marseille, Sister Yu told the captain that she had to go back to China. Although the people on the ship thought that she was crazy, she got off the ship in Marseille and found another ship going to China.

　When she returned home, her family was very disappointed. They asked her why she decided to return home. The more she explained her desire to preach the gospel to the Chinese people, the more her family considered her to be crazy. They said that her believing in Jesus had caused her to become confused and insane.

　Her family and relatives tried to counsel her, but they could not change her mind. The more she prayed, the more intensely the fire burned within her. Eventually, her family let her leave home. Under the burning of the fire of the Spirit, Sister Yu went to Shanghai, where she was without a home. She wanted to preach Jesus so that people might repent and be saved.

　Sister Yu met someone who loved the Lord and who, understanding her desire, rented a house for her. Then she began to preach the gospel. As a result of the fire of the Spirit burning within her, her preaching of the gospel was powerful. Afterward, she went to preach the gospel in Foochow, and Brother Watchman Nee was saved through her preaching. Some have testified that while she was preaching from the podium, those listening to her wept. They wept so hard that there were puddles of tears on the floor. Through preaching the gospel she was able to lead many to repentance and salvation, and others were revived.

　Our work is related to that burning of the Spirit within Sister Dora Yu. This work was produced out of the burning of the Spirit. Human initiation, promotion, discussion, or motivation are not the basis of genuine service to God. The basis of genuine service is knowing the cross and placing ourselves on the cross in order to be gained by God and to allow the divine fire to burn within us. This produces service.

　Such service is the burning of incense in the Holy Place, is accepted by God, brings man to God, and joins God to man and heaven to earth. Such a work is of God, passes through God, and goes back to God. This work comes from God to man, it brings man to touch God, and it brings God to pass through man. The continual cycle of coming from God to man and from man to God is the story of the burning of the fire of the Spirit. The only basis for this burning is our being on the altar.

　The saints who pray and apply the death of the cross will receive grace from God, and His holy fire will burn within them. Such saints do not care for themselves or set their mind on themselves but care only to satisfy God’s desire. Their work will be the issue of God moving through man. Their work will be a sweet-smelling fragrance to God.

THE WORK PRODUCED THROUGH BURNING BEING GOLD, SILVER, AND PRECIOUS STONES

　Those who do not experience the altar of burnt offering work according to what they are. They build with wood, grass, and stubble (v. 12). Wood refers to the nature of the natural man. Grass refers to the man of the flesh (1 Pet. 1:24). Stubble refers to things grown out of the earth, earthly things. Human methods and common practices in society are of the earth, not of heaven. Precious stones denote the heavenly atmosphere; in contrast, stubble denotes the earthly situation. Only work that is produced through burning is of gold, silver, and precious stones. The work that is not produced through burning is of wood, grass, and stubble.

　The day will come when the work of each will be tested by fire (1 Cor. 3:13). If our work is the issue of fire, our work will stand the test of fire. Gold, silver, and precious stones are of God and are produced through His burning. As such, the work of gold, silver, and precious stones will endure being tested by God’s fire. Furthermore, those who carry out such a work will receive a reward (v. 14). If our work is according to the natural man, by the flesh, and earthy, it is of wood, grass, and stubble. When the work of each is manifested by fire, such a work will not endure the test but will be consumed, and we will suffer loss (v. 15).

THREE KINDS OF BURNING

　The divine fire burns on the altar for acceptance and for salvation. A person who is willing to come to the altar will be saved and accepted. If a person approaches God according to his concept, instead of being burned on the altar, he will be consumed, just as Nadab and Abihu were consumed by fire. Nadab and Abihu did not touch the fire on the altar of burnt offering. As a result, they were consumed by God at the incense altar. If we are not willing to be burned at the altar of burnt offering, we will be burned at the incense altar. If we will not let the cross kill us, one day the eyes that are like a flame of fire will burn us. God is a consuming fire, and He will burn us either way.

　Someone might stubbornly say, “I will not be a Christian; then I will escape the burning.” Every Christian will surely be burned either in this age or in the coming age. However, if you are not a Christian, you will definitely be burned in the end. Even the devil will ultimately be burned by fire (20:10). All those who are not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire (v. 15). No one can avoid being tested by fire. If we know the Bible, we also know that the destination of the old creation is the burning of fire (2 Pet. 3:7, 10, 12).

　Those who are willing to be burned on the altar of the cross today will be accepted and saved by God in that day. However, those who are not willing to be burned by the cross will one day suffer loss before God, just as Nadab and Abihu suffered loss. Contrarily, those who reject salvation and the Savior will end up in the lake of fire. No one can avoid the fire of God.

　These words are not intended to threaten anyone. The corrupted human race, the natural man, needs to go through fire. However, there are three kinds of burning. The first kind is the burning at the altar, which is for salvation and acceptance. It is precious and glorious. The issue of this burning is that we become a sweet fragrance to God, and we have the appearance of precious stones. The second kind of burning is for the believers who are not willing to be dealt with or to be broken. One day their work will be proved by fire. They will suffer loss, but they themselves will be saved, yet so as through fire. These two kinds of burning are for believers. The third kind of burning is for those who reject the Lord and His salvation. These people will be cast into the lake of fire forever. Everyone will be burned; no one can escape.

　The best kind of burning is the burning on the altar of burnt offering. This is sweet and glorious. May the Lord have mercy on us and show us where we should stand and what we should do. The service in the New Testament is not of us but of Him working through us. We should place ourselves on the altar of the cross, not pitying or loving ourselves, but rather hating and dealing with the self by putting everything we have on the altar in order to be gained by God. Then fire will descend on the altar to burn us. The issue of this burning will be a service. May the Lord grant us grace.

　　读经：以赛亚书六章三至九节，路加福音十二章四十九至五十节，哥林多前书三章十二至十五节，希伯来书十二章二十八至二十九节，启示录一章十三至十四节。

　Scripture Reading: Isa. 6:3-9; Luke 12:49-50; 1 Cor. 3:12-15; Heb. 12:28-29; Rev. 1:13-14

人对神一切的事奉，都必须根据于祭坛的火

　　圣经给我们看见，人对神一切的事奉，都必须根据于燔祭坛上的火。在旧约，所有到神面前事奉的人，都必须在神面前烧香；烧香代表人在神面前所给神的事奉，并且烧香的火必须取自燔祭坛（利十六12~13）。如果不是用燔祭坛的火来烧香，人在神面前的事奉，非但不蒙悦纳，反而要遭受死亡的审判（十1~2）。所以旧约清楚给我们看见，所有在神面前的事奉，都是根据于燔祭坛上的火。

　　当以色列人跟着会幕在旷野行走的时候，他们在神面前的事奉，乃是开始于燔祭坛上的火烧起来时。利未记给我们看见，燔祭坛上的火是从神那里降下来的（九24）。当那火还没有降下之时，以色列人还没有开始事奉神，也还不能开始事奉神。他们虽然已经蒙神拯救，出了埃及，过了红海，也在西乃山下竖起帐幕，但是直到那个时候，他们对神还没有事奉，而且也不能事奉；因为他们还没有事奉的根据。他们事奉的根据，乃是燔祭坛和其上的火。光有燔祭坛还不够，必须有火降在燔祭坛上才可以。

　　出埃及记给我们看见，神把以色列人从埃及救出来，乃是要叫以色列人事奉祂（三12，九1）。以后，以色列人蒙了拯救，从埃及出来了，被神摆在一个地位，好像可以事奉神了，但是他们还不能事奉。为什么呢？因为他们还没有祭坛。到了有一天，会幕在他们跟前竖起来，祭坛也摆在会幕前面了，但是他们还不能事奉神，因为火还没有从天上降下来。即使是到了出埃及记末了，甚至到了利未记的起头，以色列人还不能事奉神。这时候神在他们对面，他们也在神跟前，似乎可以事奉了，也实在是应该事奉了，但他们还不能有事奉。为什么缘故呢？乃因为缺少从神那里降下来的火烧在祭坛上；所以，他们的事奉还不能开始。一直到利未记九章，神来带领他们，叫他们作一件应该作的事，使天上的火可以降下。

　　他们作了什么才把天上的火带下来呢？没有别的，他们只作了一件事，就是献上燔祭（22）；因为天上的火只能因着燔祭降下来。光有祭坛不够，还必须在祭坛上摆上燔祭才可以。把燔祭牲杀了，剥了，切了，洗了，然后摆在祭坛上，到了这个时候，天上的火才降下来。从那时起，神要他们借着这个火，到神面前事奉。他们在神面前所有的事奉，都该是这个火烧出来的。他们到神面前烧香，就是他们在神面前的事奉，而他们烧香所用的火乃是取之于祭坛上的火。这就给我们看见，人在神面前所有的事奉，都必须源于燔祭坛上的火，都必须是燔祭坛上的火烧出来的。

　　可惜当时的以色列人不明白这些。虽然有火降下来，烧在祭坛上，但是拿答、亚比户却不靠这祭坛上的火，而用自己的火烧香事奉神（十1）。结果，他们的事奉不蒙神悦纳，他们自己仆倒在神面前，遭遇到死亡的审判（2）。神就是借这件事警告我们，人在神面前的事奉，必须是燔祭坛上的火烧出来的；人不能使用这个火之外的任何热力。所以从利未记之后，以色列人在神面前的事奉，每一步，每一点，都是燔祭坛上的火烧出来的。

　　火在宇宙中乃是一个巨大的推动能力；直到今天，物质界的各种动力，原则上都是来自于焚烧所产生的热力。同样的，一个人在神面前的事奉，要有一股的热力，也是要经过烧的，也是要有火的。然而这火不是凡火，不是出乎人的，不是出乎地的；这火乃是圣火，是出乎神、出乎天的。人在神面前所有的事奉，都应该是神的火烧出来的。神的火就是我们里面的热力，我们里面的推动力。这绝对不是我们自己有的，乃是从神来的。

　　以色列人自从有了帐幕之后，他们在神面前所烧的香，所有的事奉，能够蒙神悦纳，都是根据于燔祭坛上的火。以后他们进入迦南地，不久就失败、荒凉了；结果会幕出事，甚至约柜也被掳了，他们就不能好好事奉神。经过一段荒凉的时期后，大卫被神兴起，要事奉神，为神造一个圣殿。他的这个心愿，以后在他儿子所罗门身上得了成全。当所罗门把圣殿造好之后，他把铜祭坛，就是燔祭坛再搬来，摆在圣殿中耶和华神面前，把燔祭牲献在上面。那一次所罗门献了祭，祷告完了，天上的火又降下来，烧在那个燔祭坛上（代下七1）。从那时候起，圣殿里的事奉就又开始了。

　　所以我们看见，以色列人在迦南地，在圣殿里一切的事奉，都是根据于燔祭坛上的火。他们每一次到神面前烧香事奉，都要经过燔祭坛，用其上的火烧香。这火多年、长久的燃烧，直烧到圣殿被毁坏为止。

　　等到新约时期，主耶稣来到地上，祂就是神的会幕，祂就是神的圣殿（约一14，二21）。人要事奉神，非经过祂不可，非到祂这里不可。在神面前，祂也设立了祭坛，这个祭坛就是各各他的十字架。祂把这个祭坛设立起来之后，就把自己献上为燔祭。等祂把这个燔祭献到神面前，到了有一天，也有火降下来。这火是什么呢？就是五旬节的圣灵（徒二1~4）。因着主耶稣肯到十字架上，把自己献给神，并且带了彼得、约翰、雅各，以及另外一百多位爱祂、跟随祂的人，和祂一样把自己献给神，神就悦纳了他们，当作馨香的燔祭。在五旬节之前，他们一百二十人在耶路撒冷的一间楼房上（一13~15）。他们真像祭物一样，把自己的一切都摆在神面前。所以五旬节那天，圣灵就像火焰一样烧在他们身上。请记得，新约的事奉就是从那时候开始的。为什么从五旬节那一天开始？因为天上的火从那一天降下，开始焚烧起来。

　　所以，新约事奉的热力和动力不是出自人，不是出自那些加利利的渔夫，而是出自天上的火。乃是天上的火降下来烧在人身上，烧在那些加利利渔夫身上，作了他们里面的热力，作了他们的动力；因此从五旬节那天起，他们就能站起来，替神说话，传扬福音，拯救罪人，设立召会。这些工作的能力，一点都不是出于他们自己，那个能力的源头是出于天，出于从天上降下来的火。

　　那个火为什么只烧他们，不烧别人呢？在那个时候，在耶路撒冷众多的人口中，为什么天上的火只烧他们这一百二十人，而不烧别人？乃因为只有他们是在燔祭坛上；圣灵的火只降在燔祭坛上。那个火不是审判的火，审判的火是在将来；那个火乃是悦纳的火，是拯救的火。正如圣经所说，现在正是最可蒙悦纳的时候，现在正是拯救的日子（林后六2）。这个火是烧在什么人身上？乃是烧在那些爱神、把自己献给神，肯舍弃一切的人身上。是烧在那些甘愿自己被杀、被破碎，肯把自己摆在神手里的人身上。神的火烧在这样的人身上，他们从这个烧里，就生出一个事奉。所以，人在神面前的事奉，不论在旧约的预表，或是在新约的事实里，都是出自于祭坛的火。

　Every service to God must be based on the fire from the altar of burnt offering. In the Old Testament the priests burned incense before God. The burning of incense symbolizes the service rendered to God by man. The fire used to burn the incense had to be taken from the altar of burnt offering (Lev. 16:12-13). If a person did not burn incense with the fire from the altar of burnt offering, that is, if he offered strange fire, his service was not accepted by God, and he suffered the judgment of death (10:1-2). This example shows that our service to God must be based on the fire from the altar of burnt offering.

　When the children of Israel followed the tabernacle in their journey through the wilderness, their service before God began with the burning of the fire on the altar of burnt offering. The fire on the altar of burnt offering descended from God (9:24). The children of Israel could not begin their service to God until the fire descended. Although they had been delivered by God out of Egypt, had crossed the Red Sea, and had raised up the tabernacle at the foot of Mount Sinai, they could not serve God, because they did not have a basis for their service. The basis of their service was the altar of burnt offering with fire burning upon it. It was not adequate to have the altar of burnt offering. The altar had to have the fire that descended from God.

　God delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt so that they might serve Him (Exo. 3:12; 9:1). After the Israelites were rescued out of Egypt, they were in a position to serve God. However, they could not serve Him, because they did not have the altar. Even after the tabernacle was raised up and the altar of burnt offering was put before the entrance of the tabernacle, the children of Israel still could not serve God, because fire had not yet descended from heaven. At the beginning of Leviticus God was before the Israelites, yet they still could not serve Him. It was not until chapter 9 that God led them to do what was necessary for fire to come down from heaven.

　The offering of the burnt offering was the prerequisite for fire to descend from heaven. Merely having the altar was not sufficient; the burnt offering had to be placed on the altar. After the sacrifice of the burnt offering was killed, skinned, cut, washed, and placed on the altar, fire could descend from heaven. God wanted the service of the children of Israel to be based on this fire. The burning of incense was their service to God, but the fire used for burning incense had to be taken from the altar. Hence, the service that we render to God must originate from the fire on the altar of burnt offering, and our service must be the issue of the burning of this fire.

　Instead of using the fire from the altar, Nadab and Abihu used their own fire to burn incense in their service to God (10:1). Consequently, their service was not accepted by God, and they suffered the judgment of death (v. 2). This incident is a warning from God that our service must be based on the fire from the altar of burnt offering. We cannot use any energy other than this fire. Every item of the service of the children of Israel before God issued out of the fire burning on the altar of burnt offering.

　Fire is a source of energy. Everything that moves in the physical world uses energy, and energy is produced through burning. In order for our service to be full of energy, our service must pass through the fire on the altar. This is not strange fire, which is of man and of the earth. Rather, this is holy fire. This fire is of God and of heaven. Our service must come out of the burning of God’s fire. This fire should be the energy, the driving force, the impulse within us. Then our service will be out of God, not out of ourselves.

　God accepted the service of the Israelites based on the fire from the altar of burnt offering. Shortly after entering the land of Canaan, the children of Israel failed, became desolate, and the Ark was carried away. As a result, the people could not serve God properly. After a period of desolation, David was raised up by God. David had a desire to serve God and to build a house for God. This desire was fulfilled through his son Solomon. After Solomon finished building the temple, he took the bronze altar, the altar of burnt offering, and put it in the temple. He also offered sacrifices and the burnt offering upon the altar (2 Chron. 7:1). At that time the service to God was resumed.

　Therefore, the service of the children of Israel in the temple was based on the fire from the altar of burnt offering. Every time they burned incense and served before God, they had to pass through the altar of burnt offering. They had to use the fire taken from the altar to burn incense. The fire was kept burning on the altar continually until the destruction of the temple (Lev. 6:13).

　When the Lord Jesus was on the earth, He was the tabernacle of God, the temple of God (John 1:14; 2:21). Anyone who had the desire to serve God had to serve through the Lord Jesus. They had to go to Him. The Lord also set up an altar—the cross on Golgotha—and offered Himself upon it as the burnt offering. Then one day fire came down. This fire was the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). The Lord Jesus Himself was willing to go to the cross and offer Himself to God. He also led Peter, John, James, and the rest of His lovers and followers to offer themselves to God, just as He did. Therefore, God accepted them as a satisfying fragrance of Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 2:15). Before Pentecost a hundred and twenty lovers of Jesus gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem (Acts 1:13-15) and presented themselves to God. As a result, on the day of Pentecost the Spirit descended upon them as tongues of fire. This was the beginning of the New Testament service. The New Testament service began on the day of Pentecost with the fire that came down and began to burn.

　The energy and the motivating power for the New Testament service did not originate in man, that is, in the Galilean fishermen. The energy and the motivating power for the New Testament service began with fire from heaven. The fire that descended upon the Galilean fishermen became the energy and the motivating power within them. After the day of Pentecost they could speak for God, preach the gospel, save sinners, and establish churches. The disciples were not the source of the power for their work. The source of that power was heaven; the power came from the fire that descended from heaven.

　At the time of Pentecost there was a great number of people in Jerusalem. However, the fire descended only on the hundred and twenty because they were on the altar of burnt offering. The fire of the Spirit descends only on the altar of burnt offering. This was not the fire of judgment, which will come in the future. This was the fire of salvation (Luke 12:49). This fire burns on those who love God, who offer themselves to God, who are willing to forsake everything for God, and who are willing to place themselves in His hands in order to be slain and broken. Their service to God is the issue of the burning. Whether in the Old Testament type or in the New Testament reality, man’s service to God always comes out of the fire from the altar.

祭坛的火乃是真实事奉的动力

　　神对人的事奉，只作一件事，就是把祂的火烧到人身上。我们要看见，什么叫事奉，什么叫工作。事奉和工作乃是人与神联合，神与人相调。好像是人事奉神，却不是出于人，乃是出于神，是神从人经过。光是神自己，不能事奉；光是出乎人，所有的事奉也不蒙悦纳。乃必须是神来了，经过人，借着人而事奉，这才有属灵的价值，才蒙神悦纳。因此，这里就有一个祭坛，神就呼召那些爱祂，要满足祂心意的人，把自己献在这个祭坛上。

　　使徒保罗在罗马十二章，劝我们把身体献上，当作活祭（1）。这就是要我们自愿对付自己，为着神肯出代价，舍弃一切。你若肯这样把自己摆在祭坛上，神的火就必降下，烧在你身上。神的火因着经过你这个人，借着你这个人，就烧出一个事奉。这样的工作，说是你作的也可以，因为的确有你一分；说不是你作的也可以，因为的确不是出乎你，乃是神作的，是神经过你、联着你作的。

　　五旬节那天，彼得站起来传福音的光景（徒二14~41），说是彼得传讲的自然可以，说是神在那里传讲的也可以；因为是神的火烧在彼得身上，是神经过彼得讲了那些话。在彼得身上，人被神得着，神也被人得着；神与人，人与神二者联合，调在一起了。

　　这就是神所要的事奉。试想一块铁摆在火里烧的光景，这块铁好像是被火吞吃了，但同时火也烧到铁里面了。这时候，你把铁从火里拿出来，这块铁就不再是青的，乃是红的，是和火同样的红。为什么呢？可以说，是因为火烧到铁里面去了。这时，你把这块铁摆在那里，那里就烧起来；你把这块铁摆在谁身上，谁就受不了。你说这是一块铁也可以，你说这是一团火也可以。火和铁，铁与火，二者成为一个了。这就是基督徒的事奉，这就是基督徒的工作。

　　真正基督徒的事奉，都不是出于人的，乃是出于神而经过人的。神的原则不是勉强人让祂经过，神不作拉夫的工作。神是把一个祭坛摆在这里，凡愿意的人，凡爱祂的人，都可以甘心前来，对付自己，破碎自己，把自己没有条件的摆在这个祭坛上，对神说，“神啊，我在这里，我只求能满足你的需要。”你若是这样诚心的献上自己，天上的火就会烧到你身上。这一个烧就变作你里面的热力，变作你里面的动力。这样的烧，就从你里头烧出一个事奉。今天在这个宇宙中，神所要作的事，就是把祂的火，这样的烧到人身上。

　The only thing that God does concerning man’s service is to send His fire to burn within man. To serve God and to work for Him mean that man is joined to God and is mingled with God. It seems as though man is serving God. However, the service comes out of God; it does not originate in man. The service is God moving through man. Without the human element, there cannot be service. However, if there is only the human element, the service is not acceptable to God. In order for our service to have spiritual value and be acceptable to God, He must move through us and serve through us. This is the purpose of the altar. God is calling those who love Him and desire to satisfy His heart’s desire to offer themselves on the altar.

　In Romans 12:1 the apostle Paul exhorts us to present our bodies a living sacrifice. This means that we must pay the price to forsake everything of ourselves. If we are willing to present ourselves on the altar, the divine fire will come down on us and pass through us. The issue of this burning will be our service, our work. On the one hand, such a work may be considered our work because we have a part in it; on the other hand, it is not our work because it is not out of us. This work is God working through us by being joined to us.

　On the one hand, it was Peter who stood up on the day of Pentecost to preach the gospel (Acts 2:14-41); on the other hand, it was God who preached the gospel. It was the fire of God burning in Peter and speaking through Peter. This is an example of man being gained by God and of God being gained by man. God and man were joined and mingled together.

　This is the service that God desires. When iron is being purified in fire, the iron seems to be swallowed up by the fire, but at the same time, the fire seems to burn in the iron. The iron becomes red because fire is burning in the iron. Then the fire burns wherever the iron is placed. We may say that it is a rod of iron, or we may say that it is a ball of fire. The fire and the iron become one. This is an illustration of the Christian service and work.

　Genuine Christian service is not of man. Rather, genuine Christian service is God moving through man. God does not force man to receive Him. God has erected an altar, and those who are willing, those who love Him, may come forward willingly to be dealt with, broken, and placed on the altar. Such a person can say, “Lord, here I am. My only desire is to satisfy Your need.” If we would offer ourselves sincerely in this way, fire will descend from heaven and burn us. This burning will become the energy that moves us. The issue of this burning will be our service. God wants His fire to burn in us.

主来是要把火丢在地上

　　试问我们的主耶稣到地上来是作什么？有人或许会应用主自己的话，说，“人子来，是要寻找拯救失丧的人。”（路十九10）这的确是很好的圣经节。有的人可能会举出另一节圣经：“基督耶稣降世，为要拯救罪人。”（提前一15）这也很好。还有的人会说，“我来了，是要叫羊得生命，并且得的更丰盛。”（约十10）以上这些都是我们众人熟悉的经节。然而在路加十二章，主耶稣自己说过一句话：“我来要把火丢在地上。”（49上）我想在人烟稠密的都市，最怕火烧了。不过请记得，主耶稣到世上来，不光是要拯救你，还要叫火烧到你身上。祂说，“我来要把火丢在地上。”

　　把火丢在地上是为着什么呢？就是要它烧起来。所以主接着说，“若是已经着起来，那是我所愿意的。”（49下）主是盼望这个火能在人身上着起来。这是什么意思呢？祂接着说，“我有当受的浸。”（50）主当受的浸，就是到十字架去受死。主若是不死，这个火就丢不下来。为此主必须死，必须接受十字架，必须上祭坛，必须摆上自己当作燔祭。

　　主若不把自己的一切都摆在神手里，这个火是下不来的。这个火就是神的能力，就是神的灵，也就是神的自己。所以当主耶稣上了十字架的祭坛，因着受死而被神得着以后，神就从天上把圣灵像火一样倒下来。这火降在那一百二十人身上，就把他们烧起来了。今天整个新约时代，所有的事奉，都是从这里烧起来的。

　Some of us might say that the Lord Jesus came to the earth “to seek and to save that which is lost” (Luke 19:10). Others might quote another verse and say that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). This also is a wonderful verse. Some might quote John 10:10, which says, “I have come that they may have life and may have it abundantly.” We are familiar with these verses. However, in Luke 12:49 the Lord Jesus said, “I have come to cast fire on the earth.” The Lord Jesus came to the earth not only to save us but to cause fire to burn on us: “I have come to cast fire on the earth.”

　The Lord cast fire on the earth so that it might be kindled. Therefore, the Lord continued, “How I wish that it were already kindled!” (v. 49). The Lord desired that the fire would be kindled in people. Verse 50 says, “I have a baptism to be baptized with.” The baptism with which the Lord was to be baptized was His death on the cross. If the Lord had not died, the fire would not have been cast down. The Lord had to die. He had to take up the cross, go to the altar, and present Himself as a burnt offering.

　If the Lord had not placed Himself in the Father’s hand, the fire could not have been cast to the earth. This fire is the Spirit. When the Lord Jesus went to the cross and suffered death, He was gained by God, and God poured out the Spirit as fire from heaven. This fire descended on the hundred and twenty disciples and burned in them. All the service in the New Testament age comes out of that burning.

得着祭坛的火就烧出有力地事奉

　　我们接着来看，这件事怎么应用到我们身上。首先，我们要清楚认识什么叫基督徒的事奉，什么叫召会的工作。请记得，这些都不是因为人高兴，发热心了，就推动什么事奉，发展什么工作。如果这样，就是用凡火事奉神，因为是出乎人的，不是出乎神的。凡火永远不能蒙神悦纳，乃是神所不要的。

　　那么，怎样的事奉才是神所要的呢？乃是借着燔祭坛上的火，而有的事奉，才是神所要的。今天在宇宙中，有一个燔祭坛已经成功，火也已经降下。这个燔祭坛就是主耶稣的十字架，而这火就是圣灵，就是神的生命，就是神的能力，也就是神的自己。这位满有神生命、能力的圣灵，已经降下；祂借着十字架这燔祭坛，一直在那里烧。直到今天，无论什么人，只要肯到十字架跟前，接触十字架，接受十字架，把十字架的死接受到他身上，肯站在死地，把自己完全给神，让神得着，燔祭坛上的火，就是圣灵，立刻要在这个人身上烧起来，烧出一个事奉。基督徒里面所有真实地事奉，都是从这里烧出来的。

　　有一位少年弟兄，生长在一个很好的家庭，父母都很爱他。有一天，他听见十字架的救恩，就接受了。这一接受，有一件事莫名其妙的发生在他里面，就是圣灵的火烧到他里头了。他一祷告，亲近主，里头的火越发烧着他。他就对主说，“主啊，我甘心乐意把自己献给你，不顾我的前途，不顾我的一生，不顾我的一切。主，我虽然是一个少年人，好像有我的前途，有我所愿意的作为，但是我肯毁坏自己，杀死自己，破碎自己。我肯在这里答应你的要求，在十字架上了此一生。”

　　当他在那里这样祷告时，越祷告，他里头的火越发烧得厉害。烧到有一天，这个少年人所在的地方，只要有一个罪人没有得救，他就不停的为他们落泪。他里头有一个热力推动他，叫他非把福音遍传出去不可。烧到一个地步，这个少年人好像要发疯了。这是什么？这就是经历燔祭坛上的火。

　　在我二十岁正是埋头读书，立志开创前途的时候，有一天听说，某处礼拜堂有位青年女子讲道。当时我觉得很好奇。三十年前，在中国北方，有一位青年女子在那里讲道，实在是前所未闻的事。所以，百忙之中，我抱着好奇的心，想看个光景，就去听了。

　　奇妙的很，我一走进聚会的地方，便觉得那个光景有点特别。诗歌一唱，更是有一种特别的情形。等到那位青年女子开始讲道，她讲神需要人，神要得着人，但是撒但却来霸占人，不让神得着。那一天，她讲的是出埃及记。那个道一直落在我里头，句句抓住我，并且在我里头焚烧。

　　当下我根本把看光景的事忘了，我里头完全被她的话征服。她每讲一句，我就低头在里面响应说，“对”。我对自己说，我要作个被神得着的人。我就是听了她那一篇道，就相信、得救了。当我从礼拜堂出来时，我的人生完全转换了。我说，“即使撒但把整个世界给我，我也不要，我全数不要了。我要丢弃这个世界，离开法老所霸占的埃及。撒但霸占了我，撒但就是这个世界的法老，我要出去。”那一天，我就这样得救了。

　　实在是主的恩待，多年之后，我能与那位传福音给我的姊妹一起事奉神。我才知道她是在基督教学校读书时信主，后来听到另外一位女子讲道而得复兴，献身事奉主。熟悉中国基督教历史的人都知道，约在二十世纪初，在中国人中，有一位主所大用的女子，名字叫作余慈度，是浙江人。

　　余姊妹是怎样成为一个传道人呢？这是我当时听到最叫我受感动的故事。这位余姊妹生长在一个很富有的家庭，年轻时受到很好的教育，读的是医科。毕业后，家人又送她到英国深造。她原是一个蒙恩得救的基督徒，乘坐在航行外洋的船上，当然亲近主，祷告主。然而，正当她这样亲近主的时候，就被主带到祭坛上去了。她一上了祭坛，圣灵的火就烧起来。那时，船已经到了地中海，可是这个火烧得太厉害，烧到一个地步，叫她觉得不能到英国去读书了。

　　圣灵的火一直在里头烧她。她自己本来也莫名其妙。家人花了多少路费、学费，把她送到船上，叫她到英国读医科，怎么可以半途折回呢？在那个时候，要栽培出这样一个人才，是非常难得的。然而那个火却在她里头一直烧，一直烧，要她下船，要她上岸，不要再往前去，要她回中国传福音。

　　这时船行在半途，并且在大海中，这怎么可能呢？好不容易到了法国的马赛，这个青年女子竟然像发疯似的告诉船长，她要回中国。全船的人都认为她疯了，谁也不知道她里头火烧的故事。她就这样留在马赛，让船开走，然后自己另行搭船，回到中国。

　　等她回到家里，全家人都万分失望，极为懊丧，说，这个孩子得了精神病。他们问她为什么回来？她说，“我回来是要传扬主耶稣，我要把福音传给中国人。”她越解释，家里的人越认为她是疯了，这个人信耶稣信疯了，信迷了。

　　当时，亲友无论怎样劝她，拦阻她，都不能改变她。她越祷告，里头越烧得厉害。家里的人用尽办法都无法改变她，就让她去了。她便从家里出来。于是，这个青年女子就这样被火燃烧着到了上海。她站在上海的马路上，举目无亲，也没有安身之处。她一面流泪，一面赞美。她要传耶稣，要人悔改，要人得救。

　　就在这时候，她碰到一个爱主的人，领会她的心情，就为她租了一个房子，让她住进去，她就开始为主传福音。圣灵的火在她里面烧，她传福音实在有能力。有一天，她到福州传福音，我们所认识的倪柝声弟兄，就是听她传福音得救的。有人见证说，当她传福音时，她在台上讲，台下的人都在哭。哭到一个地步，每排坐椅前头都是一行泪水。当人走出去的时候，两旁通路上也都是泪水。她是被圣灵的火烧得炽热的人，所以她传福音能叫许多人悔改，叫许多人得救。以后有一次，她在杭州带领奋兴会，那位传福音使我得救的青年姊妹，就是在那里因她的传讲而得复兴。

　　今天我们能有这个聚会，有这个事奉，有这个工作，和这位姊妹里面圣灵的火烧是很有关系的。可以说，这个工作是从那一次的烧出来的。请记得，对神真实事奉的根据，不是人的发动，不是人的提倡，不是人的会议，不是人的推动，乃是有一个人认识了十字架，把自己摆在十字架上，让神得着，让神的火烧在他身上，从这里才烧出一个事奉。

　　这样的事奉才是圣所里的香烧在神面前，能蒙神悦纳，把人带到神面前，也把神带到人里头，叫神人相通，叫天地联结。这一个工作是出于神，经过神，能回头到神那里的。这个工作是从神那里来到人这里，再把人带到神那里，摸着神，因此再把神带下来，再经过人，从人回到神那里。这样一直从神到人，从人到神的循环，就是这个火烧的故事。这个火烧只根据一个根基，就是有人把自己摆在祭坛上。

　　若是在这里有一班弟兄姊妹，肯在祷告中，在心愿里，把自己交在十字架上，接受十字架的死到自己身上，不顾念自己，不爱惜自己，不体贴自己，只愿满足神的心意，这班人就能蒙到莫大的恩典，就有神的圣火烧在他们身上。到这个时候，他们所作的工，就是神的火烧出来的，也是神从他们身上经过的。他们的工作在神面前，就是馨香的气味。

　Now we will consider how to apply this fellowship. We need to know what the Christian service is and what the work of the church is. We cannot start a service or initiate a work simply because we like it or are enthusiastic. To do so would be to serve God with strange fire, because the service would be of man, not of God. Strange fire is unacceptable to God. It is not what He wants.

　The service that God desires is carried out through the fire on the altar of burnt offering. The altar of burnt offering has already been set up, and fire has also descended upon it. The altar of burnt offering is the cross of the Lord Jesus, and the fire is the Spirit. The Spirit has descended and is burning through the cross as the altar of burnt offering. Any person who is willing to touch the cross, that is, to receive the cross by applying the death of Christ, will be gained by God. Then the fire on the altar of burnt offering, that is, the Spirit, will burn in him until it produces a service. All genuine service comes out of such a burning.

　There was a young brother who was born into a good family and was loved by his parents. One day he learned of the salvation of the cross and received it. Then something unexplainable happened in him; the fire of the Spirit burned in him. The more he prayed and the closer he drew to the Lord, the more the fire burned within him. Finally, he said, “Lord, I consecrate myself to You willingly. I do not care about my future, and I do not care about my possessions. I am willing to be wrecked, slain, and broken. I am willing to meet Your need and let my life be terminated on the cross.”

　The more he prayed, the stronger the fire burned within him. The fire became so intense that the young brother would weep for unsaved sinners around him. The zeal burning in him and moving him was so intense that he had to preach the gospel. He was beside himself for the gospel. This was an experience of the fire on the altar of burnt offering.

　When I was twenty years old, I was studying with a determination to accomplish something in the future. One day I heard that a young lady would be preaching in a certain chapel. I was full of curiosity because at that time in northern China it was unheard of for a young lady to preach the gospel in public. Therefore, even though I was very busy, I went to listen to her because I was curious and wanted to see the situation.

　As soon as I walked into the meeting place, I felt the situation was special. It was even more special once the singing began. The young lady spoke concerning how God needs man and wants to gain man and how Satan usurps man in order to prevent God from gaining man. She spoke from the book of Exodus. Her words penetrated me, and every sentence burned in me.

　I forgot that I was there as a spectator. My inner being was altogether subdued by her speaking. Every time she spoke a sentence, I would bow my head and respond inwardly, “Right!” I said to myself that I wanted to be a person gained by God. After listening to her message, I believed in the Lord and was saved. After I walked out of the chapel, my life was changed. I said, “Even if Satan would give me the whole world, I do not want it; I do not want anything. I want to forsake the world; I want to leave Egypt, which is under Pharaoh’s usurpation. Satan, the Pharaoh of this world, has usurped me; I want to go out.”

　Through the Lord’s grace, many years later I served together with this sister who preached the gospel to me, and I learned how she was saved. She believed in the Lord while attending a Christian school. Later, she was revived and consecrated herself to serve the Lord after hearing the gospel from another young woman. Those who are acquainted with the history of Christianity in China know that in the early part of the twentieth century, a woman by the name of Dora Yu was greatly used by the Lord. Dora Yu was a native of Chekiang Province.

　Sister Yu grew up in a wealthy family and received a good education from her youth. After she graduated from medical school, her parents sent her to England to further her studies. While she was on the ship sailing to England, she spent much time with the Lord in prayer and was brought by the Lord to the altar. As soon as she was placed on the altar, the fire of the Spirit began to burn in her. By the time her ship was in the Mediterranean Sea, the fire within her was burning so fiercely that she felt she could not go to England to study.

　Sister Yu wondered how she could turn back, because her parents had already spent a large sum of money to pay for her travel expenses and tuition. In those days it was extremely difficult to be trained as a medical doctor. Nevertheless, the fire kept burning within her, urging her to get off the ship and return to China in order to preach the gospel.

　When the ship arrived at Marseille, Sister Yu told the captain that she had to go back to China. Although the people on the ship thought that she was crazy, she got off the ship in Marseille and found another ship going to China.

　When she returned home, her family was very disappointed. They asked her why she decided to return home. The more she explained her desire to preach the gospel to the Chinese people, the more her family considered her to be crazy. They said that her believing in Jesus had caused her to become confused and insane.

　Her family and relatives tried to counsel her, but they could not change her mind. The more she prayed, the more intensely the fire burned within her. Eventually, her family let her leave home. Under the burning of the fire of the Spirit, Sister Yu went to Shanghai, where she was without a home. She wanted to preach Jesus so that people might repent and be saved.

　Sister Yu met someone who loved the Lord and who, understanding her desire, rented a house for her. Then she began to preach the gospel. As a result of the fire of the Spirit burning within her, her preaching of the gospel was powerful. Afterward, she went to preach the gospel in Foochow, and Brother Watchman Nee was saved through her preaching. Some have testified that while she was preaching from the podium, those listening to her wept. They wept so hard that there were puddles of tears on the floor. Through preaching the gospel she was able to lead many to repentance and salvation, and others were revived.

　Our work is related to that burning of the Spirit within Sister Dora Yu. This work was produced out of the burning of the Spirit. Human initiation, promotion, discussion, or motivation are not the basis of genuine service to God. The basis of genuine service is knowing the cross and placing ourselves on the cross in order to be gained by God and to allow the divine fire to burn within us. This produces service.

　Such service is the burning of incense in the Holy Place, is accepted by God, brings man to God, and joins God to man and heaven to earth. Such a work is of God, passes through God, and goes back to God. This work comes from God to man, it brings man to touch God, and it brings God to pass through man. The continual cycle of coming from God to man and from man to God is the story of the burning of the fire of the Spirit. The only basis for this burning is our being on the altar.

　The saints who pray and apply the death of the cross will receive grace from God, and His holy fire will burn within them. Such saints do not care for themselves or set their mind on themselves but care only to satisfy God’s desire. Their work will be the issue of God moving through man. Their work will be a sweet-smelling fragrance to God.

经过火烧而有的工作，就是金、银、宝石

　　这时，他们所建造的工程就是金、银、宝石。这些金、银、宝石的工程，都是出于神的。金是神的生命和神的性情；银是主的救赎，是十字架的原则；宝石是神的形像，属天的光景。所以到这时候，他们的工作就都满了神的成分，满了十字架的能力，也满了神的形状，满了属天的光景。

　　若不是这样，人凭着自己作工，这出于人的工程就是木、草、禾秸。木是指人天然的性情；草是指肉体、血气，因为圣经说，“凡属肉体的人尽都如草；”（彼前一24）禾秸是从地里长出来的东西，是属地的。人的办法，社会一般的作法，都是出于地的，不是出于天的。在圣经里，所有的宝石都是指属天的光景，所有的禾秸都是指属地的光景。因此只有烧出来的工作，才是金、银、宝石的；不是烧出来的工作，就是木、草、禾秸的。

　　有一天，这个火还要出来，试验我们（林前三13）。如果原初我们的工作，是这个火烧出来的，那一天这个火来试验时，这个工作当然经得起火烧。金、银、宝石都是出于神，被神烧出来的；当神的火再来试验的时候，必然经受得起，作这工作的人就要得赏赐（14）。若是这人一切的工作都凭自己，靠自己，出于自己，并且是照着世界，那个工作就是木、草、禾秸。有一天，当那个火出来试验的时候，他的工作就经不起，必定被烧掉，而他这个人就要受亏损（15）。

　Those who experience the altar of burnt offering build with gold, silver, and precious stones (1 Cor. 3:12). Gold refers to the divine life and nature. Silver refers to Christ’s redemption and to the principle of the cross. Precious stones refer to God’s image. The work of believers who experience the altar of burnt offering is full of the element of God, has the power of the cross, and expresses God.

　Those who do not experience the altar of burnt offering work according to what they are. They build with wood, grass, and stubble (v. 12). Wood refers to the nature of the natural man. Grass refers to the man of the flesh (1 Pet. 1:24). Stubble refers to things grown out of the earth, earthly things. Human methods and common practices in society are of the earth, not of heaven. Precious stones denote the heavenly atmosphere; in contrast, stubble denotes the earthly situation. Only work that is produced through burning is of gold, silver, and precious stones. The work that is not produced through burning is of wood, grass, and stubble.

　The day will come when the work of each will be tested by fire (1 Cor. 3:13). If our work is the issue of fire, our work will stand the test of fire. Gold, silver, and precious stones are of God and are produced through His burning. As such, the work of gold, silver, and precious stones will endure being tested by God’s fire. Furthermore, those who carry out such a work will receive a reward (v. 14). If our work is according to the natural man, by the flesh, and earthy, it is of wood, grass, and stubble. When the work of each is manifested by fire, such a work will not endure the test but will be consumed, and we will suffer loss (v. 15).

三种的焚烧

　　你要事奉神么？请记得，我们的神是烈火。祂到地上来，就是火到地上来。祂出去，就是火出去。祂进到人里面，就是火进到人里面。每一个得救的人都有这个感觉，神的生命一进到我们里面，就在我们里面烧。烧轻烧重虽然有分别，但是没有一个不被烧的。神不是冰块，不是冰冷的；神乃是火，是热力，是焚烧的。当神临到谁身上，谁身上就焚烧起来；神进到谁里头，谁里头就焚烧起来。你要亲近神么？你就定规被神所烧。神是烈火（来十二29），祂的眼睛像火焰（启一14），碰着祂的，祂都要烧。

　　神是在两个地方烧。一个地方是在祭坛上，那里是悦纳的烧，是拯救的烧。你如果肯到祭坛这里，让祂来烧，你就蒙拯救，蒙悦纳。然而，你若不到祭坛这里被焚烧，而凭着你的原样和天然到神面前，结果也要被烧，就像拿答、亚比户被火焚烧一样。请记得，拿答、亚比户没有在燔祭坛这里碰到火，结果却在香坛那里碰到神的火，死在神面前。所以，我们若不在祭坛这里被烧，也得到香坛那里被烧。今天你若不让十字架的火烧你，有一天眼睛如烈焰的那个火，也要烧你。神是烈火，祂总归要烧。

　　或者你不服气，说，我不作基督徒岂不是不必烧了么？请记得，你作基督徒是一定要烧，今天不烧，明天还要烧；今世不烧，来世还得烧，总归要烧。但你若不作基督徒，最后的结局更是被烧，连魔鬼的结局都是被焚烧（二十10）。未得救的人都要到火湖里去烧（15），没有一个人是可以不经过火烧的。你如果认识圣经，就知道一切旧造的结局和归宿，就是被火焚烧。

　　人若看见这个，今天肯在十字架的祭坛上让火焚烧，结局就是蒙神悦纳，蒙神拯救。但是人如果不肯在这里被烧，有一天就要和拿答、亚比户一样，碰着烈焰，倒毙在神跟前。另一面，人如果拒绝救恩，不接受救恩，不接受救主，结局更要落到火湖里。没有一个人是不被烧的。

　　我在这里并不是讲威吓人的话。愿主怜悯我们，开我们的眼睛，给我们看见，所有败坏的人类，天然的人，都得经过火烧。不过，这个焚烧分作三种。第一种是在祭坛这里，这是拯救的火，悦纳的火。你若甘心接受这里的烧，那是何等宝贵，何等荣耀！这个烧的结果，是在神面前发出馨香之气，叫我们显出宝石的光景。第二种烧是为着那些得救了，却不肯对付自己、破碎自己的人，有一天火也要出来，烧他们的工作，烧他们这个人。他们自己虽然可以得救，却要受亏损，好像从火里经过一样。以上两种烧，都是为着已经得救的人。第三种的烧是为着那些不要主、拒绝救恩的人，那就是摆到火湖里烧。每一个人都要被烧，没有一个人能逃避这个烧。

　　最上等的烧，就是燔祭坛上的烧，这是甘美的，也是荣耀的。愿主怜悯我们，叫我们看见，我们是蒙恩的人，应该站在那里，应该作什么。求主给我们看见，新约的事奉不是出于我们，乃是出于祂而经过我们。我们把自己摆在十字架的祭坛上，不可怜自己，不宝爱自己，倒恨恶自己，对付自己，把一切都摆在祭坛上，给祂得着；这样，祂的火就要降在祭坛上，焚烧我们。从这里就要烧出一个事奉。这是上好的路，愿主恩待我们。

　　一九五四年一月讲于马尼拉

　　原刊于一九六三年十一月“话语职事”第一百四十九期

　Those who have a desire to serve God must remember that our God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29). When God comes to the earth, fire comes to the earth. When God enters into man, fire enters into man and burns in him. The degree of burning may be different, but every believer experiences being burned. God is not cold. He is fire that energizes and burns. Those who draw near to God experience the burning. God is a consuming fire, and His eyes are like a flame of fire (Rev. 1:14). Whoever touches Him will be burned.

　The divine fire burns on the altar for acceptance and for salvation. A person who is willing to come to the altar will be saved and accepted. If a person approaches God according to his concept, instead of being burned on the altar, he will be consumed, just as Nadab and Abihu were consumed by fire. Nadab and Abihu did not touch the fire on the altar of burnt offering. As a result, they were consumed by God at the incense altar. If we are not willing to be burned at the altar of burnt offering, we will be burned at the incense altar. If we will not let the cross kill us, one day the eyes that are like a flame of fire will burn us. God is a consuming fire, and He will burn us either way.

　Someone might stubbornly say, “I will not be a Christian; then I will escape the burning.” Every Christian will surely be burned either in this age or in the coming age. However, if you are not a Christian, you will definitely be burned in the end. Even the devil will ultimately be burned by fire (20:10). All those who are not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire (v. 15). No one can avoid being tested by fire. If we know the Bible, we also know that the destination of the old creation is the burning of fire (2 Pet. 3:7, 10, 12).

　Those who are willing to be burned on the altar of the cross today will be accepted and saved by God in that day. However, those who are not willing to be burned by the cross will one day suffer loss before God, just as Nadab and Abihu suffered loss. Contrarily, those who reject salvation and the Savior will end up in the lake of fire. No one can avoid the fire of God.

　These words are not intended to threaten anyone. The corrupted human race, the natural man, needs to go through fire. However, there are three kinds of burning. The first kind is the burning at the altar, which is for salvation and acceptance. It is precious and glorious. The issue of this burning is that we become a sweet fragrance to God, and we have the appearance of precious stones. The second kind of burning is for the believers who are not willing to be dealt with or to be broken. One day their work will be proved by fire. They will suffer loss, but they themselves will be saved, yet so as through fire. These two kinds of burning are for believers. The third kind of burning is for those who reject the Lord and His salvation. These people will be cast into the lake of fire forever. Everyone will be burned; no one can escape.

　The best kind of burning is the burning on the altar of burnt offering. This is sweet and glorious. May the Lord have mercy on us and show us where we should stand and what we should do. The service in the New Testament is not of us but of Him working through us. We should place ourselves on the altar of the cross, not pitying or loving ourselves, but rather hating and dealing with the self by putting everything we have on the altar in order to be gained by God. Then fire will descend on the altar to burn us. The issue of this burning will be a service. May the Lord grant us grace.

第二篇 事奉的根据－祭坛的火

建造神家的事奉